IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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1.25 


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I  50      


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2.0 


U    lllll  1.6 


6" 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


i/x 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


o 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  at  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


n 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommag^e 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  peiiiculde 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  g6ographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


D 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serrde  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intirieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutdes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  film^es. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl6mentaires; 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique.  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mdthode  normale  de  filmoge 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


D 
D 
D 

m 


V 


n 
0 


Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaur6es  et/ou  pellicul^es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d6color6es,  tachet6es  ou  piqu6es 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d6tach6es 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 


I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 


Qualitd  indgale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppl^mentaire 


Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 

c 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pagas  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  filmdes  d  nouveau  de  fapon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  fiimd  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu6  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


y 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


e 

Stalls 
s  du 
lodifier 
r  une 
Imoge 


s 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Dana  Porter  Arts  Library 
University  of  Waterloo 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


L'exemplaire  film6  fut  reproduit  grfice  d  la 
g6n6rosit6  de: 

Dana  Porter  Arts  Library 
University  of  Waterloo 

Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetd  de  l'exemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimde  sont  film^s  en  commen^ant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film^s  en  commenpant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivarts  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  "  ^tf^^ure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  .t»f''   .»    /  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  i.>t.  ly  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmds  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  ciichd.  il  est  filmd  d  partir 
de  Tangle  supdriei .  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite. 
et  de  haut  en  bas.  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n6cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m^thode. 


irrata 
to 


pelure. 
n  d 


n 


32X 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

/ 


■4         I 


Op 


,«(■'" 


>H' 


P        ^■Y^.' 


,.f         .'^t 


1    fTl-iM!  I'^'M. 


't  ..'^ 


^\ 


<"•/ ,,.  V 


,.**v 


'i    ".  r.;  'M-r 


ENT, 


'S 


i 

u    ■ 


JEMGilS 


'i^ical 


!     I 


Wl 


fHESTORVop 


WONDERFUL  RELIGIOUS  MOVEMENT, 

WHICH,    I.IKK,   THK   f.lH.F   SIRKAM, 

'  HAS  GIVEN  WARMTH   TO  WIDE  WATERS 

AND  VERDURE  TO  MANY  LANDS; 

AND   I.IV1N(. 


AN   ACCOUNT   OF   ITS   VARIOUS   INFLUEKGCS 
^ND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  TO-DAY. 


BY 


A.    B.    HYDE,    D.    D., 

Pro/,-ss,>r  of  Giwk  in  tlw  I'liiversity  ,>/  Deimer  :    Member  I'f  Avirriran  PhUological 

Assoriiitioi!  :    of  Ameriian  Society  of  lUblidtl  J-'.xege.sis  ;  if  Suimiier 

School  of  Philosopliy-,  etc.:    lately  P>-ofissor  of  lUhlual 

Literature,   Alicj^/ioiy  L\h'lei;e,   Pa. 


IF'XJLIL;-^    ILL-CTSTIKu^TEID. 


srUINGFIKLD,    MASS.: 

WILLEV    .>t,    COMPANY, 
1888. 


NoriiK  IS  iiKRKiiY  (;ivi>f  l)v  the  imblisbers  that  the  sale  of  this  book,  'I'lii'. 
Stoky  ok  Mi'.i  iioDis.M,  \>y  siih^criptiuii  unjy,  is  iirolcLlei!  Iiy  ciecisioiis  of  tiic  l'.  S. 
Circuit  Courts.  These  ducisioiis  are  by  the  U.  S.  Circuit  Court  of  Oliio,  rendered 
by  Judge  Hauiniuiul,  and  liy  the  U.  S.  Circuit  Court  of  Pennsylvania,  renilered  by 
Judge  Jiutlcr,  and  are  that  "wlien  a  siiliscription  hooi<  jiublisiiing  house,  in  connection 
with  the  author  elects  to  sell  a  book  pun-ly  l>y  siilKuriptioii  and  iloes  .u>  si//  it,  through 
agents  that  are  agents  in  the  /ro„/  sfiisr  an<l  not  iiu/tpi-iii/iiit  f'uriliastrs  of  the  books, 
(he  house  and  autiior  are  entitled  to  the  ])rotection  of  tiie  Courts  as  against  any  book- 
seller wlio  invades  their  rights  liy  attempting  to  buy  and  sell  a  book  so  jmblished 
antl  sold." 

IIknck  ihis  is  ■]()  N''lll^■  VdU  that  all  our  agents  are  inider  contract,  as  om 
agents,  to  sell  this  book  bv  subscription  only.  'I'luy  liave  no  right  wiiatever  to  sell 
It  in  any  other  way,  as  books  are  furnished  thetn  only  for  individual  subscril)ers,  and 
anv  interference  with  our  agents  to  induce  theni  to  sell  contrary  to  their  contract 
obligations  and  our  rights,  or  any  sale  of  th's  book  by  you  will  entitle  us  to  the   ]iro- 

the  fact  that  book- 
sellers lay  themselves 
Entered,  according  to  Act  of     liable  to  jirosecution, 


tection  of  the  Courts. 

\VK  TAKK  I'AINS 

to  call  your  especial 
attention  to  these 
facts,  because  of  the 
general  and  errone- 
ous belief  that  a  sidv 
^cription  work  can  be 
bought  and  sold  in 
the  iiook  stores  con- 
trary to  the  rights  of 
both  publisher  and 
author  without  legal 
redress  being  afford- 
ed them. 

Tuksk  kfx'en  r 
iiKCisioNS  establish 
that  this  book  can  be  infallibly  identified  wherever  fc 


Congress,  in  the  year    1888,   by     to  injunction  restrain 
A.  1!.  Hyde,  in  the  Office  of  the  •  '"S  H'e  disposal   of 
Librarian  of  Congress  at  Wash- 
ington, I).  C. 

Entered  according  to  Act  of 
Congress,  in  the  year  1887,  by 
A.  B.  Hyde,  in  the  Office  of  the 
Librarian  of  Congress  at  Wash- 
ington, I).  C. 


])er^on  selling  this  book  to  the  trade. 


illl 


le  swi 


ft 


the  otfering  of  it  for  sale 


of  copies  of  the  work, 
which  can  only  be 
obtained  by  collusion 
with  an  agent,  and  to 
an  accounting  in 
damages  when  they 
buy  and  sell  this 
book,  knowing  it  is 
sold  purely  by  sub- 
scri|Uioii. 

Nol'IKICAf  1  ON 
"IS        llKIiKHY      i;iVKN 

and  the  detection  of  the 
a  bookseller, 


will  be  instituiec 


sure,  and  suniniary  priueedings  against  both  bookseller  and 


agent 


\Vk  TKrsi'  Yoi'  will  receive  this  notice  in  the  kindly  siprit  in  which  it  is  given, 
as  it  is  made  to  inform  honorable  merchauts  and  others  who  have  heretofore  liought 
<ubscrii)tionbooks  in  ignorance  of  tne  jiublishers'  and  authors'  rights,  as  well  as  to 
irotect  ourselves  and  author,  and  our  agents  against  infringements  which  discourage 


them,  and  rol 


1  us  o 


f  the 


leg 


tin)ate  fruits  of 


our 


lab 


or  and  investment. 


.•\i;kn  rs  and  all  other  jiersons  are  ])articularly  requested  to  inform  us  at  i>)H'e  of 


the  o 


ffei 


if  this  bo(ik  for   sale  b 


redited  agent. 


y   any 


b 


lokselier  or   otiier  person  not   our   ac- 


^• 


^*:4 


DEDie;q!Fi0N. 


To   tllO   busy,  often  Ui-irx.     .  I  , 

^■.•..i„«,i,.,:„„i„.,  .::';'■ : '""■" i.-^ k,..,...,,. 

"     "'•""•    "if  IU(inilIl<r    .,,,,1     ,),,  ,  , 

"  '■'""■'• ■ i...  i..  .,.u ;„  . ,  '■■."■'^:  "V"  ""■  '■"■' "' 

nlW.»l„„c.„,  „)■  spirit  „.|,ile  tl,.v        [  ""''■  '""  "'"'  ■""''I 

" ;'-'■" --%^i...:i:;:::i;:::''-™'r'r^^'-"-''' 

■  "jr»!.'.'.ne,„s  ,„„l    ,l„.  ,„.,„  „„„„„,„  "'"-      "'^' '•"""<!  "<M..iK- 

"'■"■'■ — '-. ,„„„  ,::,„..  .,::"r:""  ""p""-  -» -> 

'"""■  tin...  iluu.  is  „,,,|,,|  .     „   ,         ■  •         '  '"  '"'■  l"''n'lu.-e  „„|,-  „  |i„]e 

'"'"■-  ""■  -"-  '-<■• -.^ .-.  ,.«•,.,,.„  ,„!,.:  :;■""'  '•""■'■'"  -'.- 

""....  l....-„„„.  w,,„.v.  „,„l  ,„„■    „,,s,,  ,„■     ,     ■;        '"'■■  " "'■"■.''•I.'--  >ve 

".".=-  wi,i,.i,  „-,.  ,v„„i,i  ,ik..  ,:k„„„,,  ;„,,";'";;■  ^'"  ""■■■'• .- ,■ 

"NfTlit  to  k„o,v.  ''"'.  "'■  '•.'.'   I'Mt  tl,i„k  >ve 

».Hl  lVs..„t  P„si,i,.,,     ,,  ,,^.  .,   ,      '  ;     '  ■''"• '.'."  ^  >.-  Hi....  IV,,.,.,,, 

'■'"•'  '"'P-tant  that  to  know  nothing  of  it  ..,„  ,  ',  ^"  "'^ '"-'^-- -  "-r 
^^■^">  "--^  appeared  in  it,  i.  ,..,,,  .;,.,,.;,"  ';;.''^'  --^^-  -  -''e  ,..., 
''   .^I.o„hl  still  interest  „s  to  knoiv  h  ''"  '"■"  "'"  '^^^'^''^'^'i'^t.s 


active    und  spiritual   1' 


how  some  tiv 


they 


are  worki 


'•«»testants    came  to   tl] 


*'  and  one-half  nn'Il 


ions  of 


11"-. 


in  a  faithful  but  easy  and 


'I'o  all    wh 


''  ^"'i-'anism  in    which    to-d 


<or  with  such  he 


fresh 


^  would    like    this   knowled 


ilV 


Dresentiuir,  tl 


l^'t'.    and   like  it 


IS  in 


l^ariect  sympathy. 


ie  author  dedicates  his 


work. 


<:-I'l^HKH('H.-> 


Mr.Tiiiii>i>Ar  hii.'^  hi'fii  a  i'lvi  in  tin*  -.voi'M  for  ;iou'  nlioiit  a  liun<ln'd 
and  lil'lv  ji'iirs.  Tin!  iimiik!  Mcllnxlist  is  Imu'iu'  liy  iiltniit  tisr  iuid  oiif- 
Iiair    iiiillinus    I  '"    |n'()|)li'.      It     is    lii'Iicxcil    llmt     ilitvsc    iir«'    :int    luiU'    tlio 

|)('i)|)lr     thai     to-(liiv    ti'cl     till'    iiilliH'Mi t'    till!    ;^|-,.at    rt'Iii:iniis    iimv  fiin'iit 

that  wi'  call  Mcthnilisiii.  I'ni-  tiii.>  was  a  i'r\i\al  of  riirisi  iaiiitv .  »urh 
as  had  not  l)t'i'ii  sci'ii  in  all  its  (ciitiicics.  I  )['  snch  a  rf\i\ai  tln'r<! 
should  l)c  a,  tali-  to  tell,  and  this  is  the  task  we  siM  to  oui'scU  fs.  A 
story  is  a  little  dilli'i't-nt  tVoin  a  history.  Tlir  latter  i-  jii<iiiit1_v  i  I'nII. 
hihornd  and  cai'elnl  pfestintation  <<\'  n  uixcn  line  oi' fact>  in  tlnir  relations  oi' 
cii.ise  ami  efl'ect,  ol'  time,  |>laee  and  onlei'.  A  story  lia>  le-.^  ol'  di'^nity, 
periiaps  less  of  precision.  It  pro|)oses  to  entertain  w  Idle  it  in-irneis  ;  to 
}ihi'  not  all  that  is  knowable,  lint  that  whieli  most  men  would  care  to  know. 

History  is  for  study.  A  .^toiy  is  for  easy  readiicj  and  tellini;  ;  a  story 
ouirht  uot  to  hi!  tedious  with  detail.  It  must  leave  many  thiniis  unsaid,  and 
many  other  things  that  seem  unsaid  must  imdt  and  minglt!  with  tho  current 
of  the  tale. 

One  may  (!  isilv  l)elie\-e  that  .Metlir>disni  lias  not  lacked  for  historians. 
they  ha\('  '^iyen  the  lives  ol'  its  ehiid'  characters,  and  accounts  of  its  vari- 
ous enterprises  and  e\ents,  until  it  may  lie  said  that  the  ^\riler  ol"  to-day 
can  sav  nothing:;  n  w  which  is  also  true,  and  nothing'  ti'ue  which  is  also 
new.      There  is  almost  nothing'  in  this  Story  which   some  one  else    has  not 

in  some  way  already  told.  There  can  lie  no  oI■i^■inality  in  fact,  hut  only  in 
Style  and  order  of   statenu  nt. 

The  writei-  has  foi'  lifty  yeai's  liei'ii  a  i-ai-cfnl  oliser\er  of  Methodism,  and 
fairly  acquainted  with  it>  pi-omincnt  characters.  lie  has  conversed  with 
ancients  who  had  listeneil  to  AVesley.  Ili'  \\;i-  read  widely,  and  the  result 
of  the  whole  has  Ikhmi  a  boundless  gratitude  and  wonder  at  the  subject- 
inatter  of  this   Story. 

The  ellbrt  has  been  made  to  present  it  as  oiu!  who  knew  it  well  would 
tell  it  at  his  own    lireside.      la  these  later  days,  so  wide  have  the  activity 


Mini  oiif- 
linlt'    tli.« 

lll«i\  I'lUfllt 

iiity.  'iicli 
i\;il     tli('r<^ 

Hm's.  a 
•Iv  I  full. 
L'littioiis  oi' 
t'  ili'^niity, 
inii'i-i  :  ti) 
'  tn  know. 
; ;  a  jitnry 
iisiiiil.  iiinl 
lie  ciirreut 

listoriiiiis. 
ils  Viiri- 
<it"  ti>-(lay 
ell  is  al.so 
I'  lias  Hot 
lit  only  in 


i'i!i:i'Aci:. 

::;:;;r::::::;r'i:,:;;::::::;:;:-^ ■-- -^^^ 

'-• •'•■-'■.........„„„„.. ::;;::;,,::::,,::::;;:•■'■•■;''■ 

am    of  III, ,  •II  .       ,     ,.  •  '"   •''♦'ilKxIi.st  juissioii, 

""  '"   "ii(c    viila-c'sui     India    sockiiP--    Cjin^f    ..f 

pi-fuol.in.r      \vi„„      I  '-    *- ""'''  "t  "»^'«   un.l.T  Metlio.list, 

I  ^Hci..n„.      W  liat  volmnc  can  f.-U  all  ih,..,-  il,in.rsV 

c.i;L,::ri::;:r::;.;:"T''"'''*'^'' ^  •-■"■•"■" > 

pro,:.,.-  ..;;.■;::,■:,:  ^'"™  - ' ■■"  "^^  ™'' "» ■>  "-■ .,.-.„ 

"«»  t„  ,r„„»c,i„,„  „,,ic.|,  ,c.,.i„,„|,  „„fe,,  „,„  Mo„,,„"  .    ,  ;  ""  '  '""'- 

-ni,.;.:;r.::::;:;:--:;;::;;:-7.-^.;.;..: 

-W  ««,-  .veil  ,vi,l,  „,„.  „,,iel,  ,„„  ,,,,„,,  i,  ,  '"""•     ''"^•"""'  "■•■^ 


imicml^  ,.f  Dnn-.r,  .hn.aury,  1HS7 . 


ilism,  iuid 
rscd  with 
the  ivsiilt 
e  .silbji'Ct- 

'ell  would 
le  activity 


The  Story  in  England. 


('M.\i''n;i!  I. 
Tin;  oiciiiiN  (ii-  MiniioDisM. 

WIliU  is  Mcthoill.siii?  — Mow  l(  iirusc— Mow  iiiiirii'd— Tlic  tliiics  In  wlilcli  !l  liroso— Inlldol 
and  Christian  wrilciNoriliat  day— The  coiKliliuii  of  Kiiwli^li  Mociety  tlicii— Tlu'  iippt'r 
anil  Ifiwcr  cluHSfs— Dfclinc  of  f lie  C'inircli— T'ttrnrncrs  nf  llmnKlitful  nici:— (iifut 
need  of  \' it  ill  ri'liwion— "  Man'Mfxtrruilty  (ioil's  oppui'imiily  "-  IIjjw  nrlli,  1  lid  ionic  of 
till'  Wfslcys— Wi'slcyiin  imccstry,  "iilnTcd  of  nolili'  blixxls"— "Tlii'fallicToi  ilie  Wcs. 
leys" — Trails  of  his  cliiiraclci'— I'liiiioi'oiis  rcproofofpnrisli  clerk  —  Ucfoic  the  Hisliop 
—  In  prison  for  |)l•cacllln^'  — 'I'lic  lirst  missionary  plan  -  Sepitriition  mid  reunion— 
Lust  days  and  ilealli— "  Snsaiina  Aiinesley,"  tin- "  niotlicrof  Mctliodisni"— Of  liohlo 
imeestry— (ireal  |)crsoniil  hcaiity— rortraidirc  of  ehariiclcr— Kveiiiiifi:  .services— 
Truinintflier  children— Traits  of  eliaraeter— I  Ionic  life—"  Straiiffo  noises"— "(iliosts" 
— Belief  ill  spirits— roetic  fril'ls  of  Sainiiel— The  brothers,  Jolin  and  Ciiarlos— .lolin's 
"escape  from  Imrniiitf" — Small-pox— Charles"  "fair  escape" — At  Ciiart(!r-lloiist; 
School- I'hysiciil  si  met  lire  and  ha  I  ill  soft  he  hrolhers— Th.eir  nuisical  talents— Mm  ei'- 
in;.;  ( ixtbril.  ........... 


Vt 


(  IIAI'IKI!  II. 
Lin:  AT  oxioiti). 
Infidelity  in  the  T'niversity— Jolni  Wesley  becomes  "  a  loi'd  in  the  realm  of  mind  "— 
l.s  or<iaiiieil  deacon  — llecomes  a  fellow  <)f  I.,incoln  ColIcKi — A  word  in  season— Tl'e 
Holy  Club— .lolm  "tile  fatlK.'r  of  it  "— tieorKc?  Wliitelleld  joins  the  Holy  Cliil)— .Jolin 
Wesley  jrocs  to  (ieortria  witli  (Jen.  O^rh'tlioriie— .Moravian  liillucnces— Wliitetleld's 
career  bejr ins— His  personal  (|ualities— Kll'ccts  of  his  llrst  sermon— ^\'llitcliel(l  f-'ovis  to 
Gcortria—(ireat  farewell  inectiiiiis  at  Ihistol  nnd  London— The  starliiifi- iioiiit  of  our 
modern  religions  hisloiy — The  iMora\iiiiis— They  direct  the  feet  of  the  Wesievs  inte 
the  ways  of  peace — Tiie  Wesleys  receive  linal  lif-^hl  —  Kra  of  exlemiKM'aiicoiis  prayer 
bcfjiin- The  llrst  watcli-nitrht  — Methodism  now  truly  begins— First  liehl  iM'eachiiitf— 
Tile  work  in  Wales— Hidpers  tliere— In  London  a;raiii— .\  collection  of  ten  thou, 
sand  pieces  of  cojiper — Silencinsr  a  fop  of  tlie  ]ieriod  —  I'liildintr  the  lirst  chaiiel — 
Wliy  ill  AVesley'so\viierslii|)— lUrth  year  of  Met  iioii  ism— Separation  from  Moravians— 
Weslcyaii  Hymns  smd  Sacred  I'oems.  ....... 

CHATTRH  III. 
HKADW.W   ok    MKTHODISM.— WllITF.KIKI.D'S   SKTAKATION. 

Mobs— At  Kiiwortli- An  Kra  in  Church  Music— ^Ictliodisin  enters  its  career — At  .New- 
castle —  .Moriiiiif,'  sermons- Classes — Watch  -iiifjrhts— Lovi'-feasts- Heli)ers— Wliite- 
tield  and  Wesley  disagree  in  doctrine— I'rinccton — (Jllier  tours — Inity  f>f  feeling — 
Scotland— Whitelield's  irn'atcst   dav— Results.  ...... 


40 


79 


(ON  TI'.N  r>. 


mh 


IntUlol 
ii))li('r 
-(irt'iit 

)lllf  of 

leWfS- 

Itisliop 

fiiioii— 

iiiihle 

ices — 
ostrt" 
oliii's 

InilMO 
Filter- 


Ill 


1.1"— 

-Tl<c 

-.Iiilin 

licld's 

111' < nil" 

int<* 
iniycv 
liiii«— 
lliiiii- 

llM'l  — 

inns— 


49 


New- 

iVliitc- 
linti— 


(  ilAi'ii:i;  i\. 
Ttik  ciii'mkhh  «>i    IIin ri>'<ii»)N. 

(ifiir;.'!' III.  II  iiH'tii'"''"  "f  ii  Mi'il.  "Il'l  cla^'— Aiifftiiv  111  I.iuly  niiiilliiMiliui— >lii'  i'Ihmxch 
Wliiti'llclil  mill  C'lih  liiUiii  III  \Vi'.-.|('y  mill  Aniiliilaiii-in— >lir  r(iiiiiiii~  ilir  li:iniiiiiil/.ln>; 
irlciiil  tii'twi'cii  llii'iii— Wlillt'IlcM  ami  Ucsjry  iiiiniiiu;  ilir  Aii".liu'riii'\  — Tlii'  <  lunilfss 
oi   -.iilViilk— Trcx 11  — I,Mil\'    llimliii«iliiii's  ilniili.        .  .  .  ,  .  ,    \r> 

(   II  AlTIl!   \. 
I'll!.  Iliiiiin    TiMi;s. 
Ti'Kiil)!''  rorrstMMi— MiiNlli'lil  llr.tt  lay   |irciiclii'i'— Mi--.   \\'r>lf\'s  ilcuili— .Inlm  NrNmi  — 
Si)  Siiinlay  work— '•  Wliiil  liu\t' tlii'y  ilmii'!' "  -Tlii' iilall'oi'iii -(iciHTal  nili-.    <  irriilis 
—  I'liy^lcill  cnVt'tH— >lul)  III  Shi'lllrlil- Mull  III    St.  J\  cs— .(iiliii  \\  c-liy  anil   Ni'l-mi  in 

Wall-* '^ 

(  iiAi'ii  i;  \i. 
llAiri.i;.-   \M>  \  I(ii)ifii>. 
I'aliiiiiiil'''*  rli'iiilati'il  — Ni'W   <iiillj|i'iilvs— Itlilli   ol    llyiiiiiH  111  tli(>    Htiiriiis— (,\Nciiiia|)  In 
Wall's— Dnil'liiiK'  Wi'slcy's  iirt'iu'licrs   Inr  the  anii\— Nclsnn's    iiiipristiiiincnl— Ni'1-.iiii 
Ml   ilii'  aniiy— "Till-*  U  till' (liictfliu!  that  oiitrlit  to  In)  iirrarln'il"— Tlins.  Hi'anl,  the  ili-i 
iiiarlM-  to    Mi'tlioilisiii— Wesley's  last  siTimm  lii'loi'i' till' I'liiMT^ity   .      (txturil.  .   I IJ 

(  IIAI'Ti;i{  Ml. 
Till  I'lKsi  (  MM  i;iii;,N<'K. 
'I'lie  iii'cil  111' II— Till'  iiieiiiliei's  ut'  It— Coiilereiiet'  iliseiissioiis- "lliiw  far  must  we  iiliey  the 
lli~lio|is.-'— Kivi)  pojits  of  .Metlioilisiii— "Will  .Mellniilisni  he  thrust  out  or  leaven  the 
(liuieh ■:""—"( Jan  we  have  a  Seiiiiuary  for  lalxirers;' "-Wesley's  "Appeal  to  Men  of  Keasmi 
ami  UellKliin"— Melhoili.^t  snliliers— Iliittle  of  Koiitcnoy— "I  eaii  (ireaeli  the  pispel  willi- 
iiiil  a  gDWn" — Nelsiiii  at  Aleoiiil)— (iriiiisliaw— (jliarlos  \Vesley's  iiiania^'e— (iraiM! 
Munay— .Mrs.  Vi/.elli.'.  ..........  Ill) 

(  IIATTKU    VIII. 
.Mi;illo|)|SM    IN    lltlll.AMi. 

'Wliat  >1imII  we  ilo  fur  Irelaiiir:'"- Wesley  prueeeils  Imlepoiiileiitly— ti.'iy  ami  eareless 
(■iiii;,'reKalioiis— Cliaiies  in  Dublin— 'I'lie  llist  Irish  niarlyr- Tliouuis  Wulsh— Irish  Mohs 
—••Wiieii  you  pleail  fi>r  your  life,  pleail  ill  Irish."  .....  .135 

(  IIAl'TKU  I.\. 

WiiiTi;iii;i.i>  o.Nci',  Mui!i:. 
Wliilelleld  ill  .Viiieriea— At  Hnstun  ami  I'liilailelphia— In  the  Hernni(la.s—Lii(ly  Hunting- 
dull   in  Wales— Wliiteliehl  iiiSeollaml  ami   KiiKlainl— Kartlniiiakc  In  Lomloii— "ThL-i 
iiwfiil  God  is  durs."  ...........  14'2 

CIIAI'TKI!    X. 

Ol'IMitNS    AM)    KlONOMICS. 
Steerafxe  follows  lieailway— "llow  sliall  we  treat  those  who  leave  us':'"— Scale  of  proiuo- 
tiiin— Doetrines— Kllorts  at  eeiitializatioii— A  iiio\  alile  I'eiitor— Ti'ii  ji.'ai's,  .  144 

CIIAI'TKI!  M. 
PKOIilM'.S!^   IN    ll!i;i,AM). 
John  .lane— tiertiians  in  Ireland— 'riie  Soldiers,  Wedley's  host  friends  ill  ll'olaiul— The 
buy  deserter— Dmican  WrJHiil— Walsh's  Decline. -Ireland's  heroc.s  to  MuthoUi.- ~ii  15'2 

(IIAl'TKU    MI. 
'I'm;  M;xr  Tkn  Vi;ai{s  in  Knoland. 
Wales- Scotlaiul  — Wesley's  Tours-  First   Africiiii  jMt'tliodist  — Doiiths  — Tioiiblos— 
Thoinu.-.  l^ee— Cln-istian  Hopper— Charles  Weslcy—.Ioliii  Fletcher— Wesley's  Wife— 
Sepiiration- John  Kouiaine— John  lierridfic— Martin  Madan— Henry  ^■l'nll— Wesley's 
men  of  yeiiiiis.  ........  .  .  .  I.")? 


8 


rONTKXTS. 


It 


(IIAl'TKK    Mil. 

Calvinistic  Mktiiodism. 

Rt'vit'w— Wliitt'lleld's work aiul power— His  tcinlcr  rfgiii<l  Idi' Wesley— Wciiry  oi'  Pojui. 
liirity— l.eincs  Kii;:lim(l  lorever— '!"<>iirs  in  Americii— His  lasi  oi'  ('i).'liteeii  tlioii- 
siiiid  sermons— "[ -would  riitlier  weiirtmt  tlian  rusl  out"— Wliitelield's  di'iilli— (  iipt. 
'riioinas  Scott— ('iii)t.  Toriiil  .loss— Lord  Durtiiioiitli— 'I'l-yiiif,'  (txt'ord  Stii(l(!iits  for 
lioldiii^f  MetlioiUst  tenets— First  Anniversiiry  at  Trovecca— Waller  slurlny— Kicliard 
and   Kowhiiul  Hill— .Surrey  Cliaiiel.  ........  1(19 

I'HAPTKR  XIV. 
TlIK    t'AlAlMSIIO  CO.NTHOVKH5V. 

"Have  ve  not  leaned  too  nnicli  towards  Calvinism':'"- Six  yeais  of  eoiitroversy— Fletch- 
er TcHif^ns  presidency  of  Treveecil  CoUef^'e— Liidy  IIuntiiiKdoi!  in  (Jeortria- Wliite- 
lielil  a  sliivo  owner — "SlavesKtarve  the  common  lahoi'er"— The  free  soil  of  Kiij^land- 
Howell  Harris— His  laterworkiind  ileatli— Daniel  l{owlands—.rolm  Newton, the  (.'ajitain 
of  iiHhiver,  afterwards  founds  Low  Chm-cli  I'arty— Wm.  Cowpcr,  the  banl  of  (alvinistic 
Motliodlsm— Kelalion  of  I-ady  Huntingdon's  work  to  the  Church— Separation  and 
DecliiiG— Political  influence  of  Methodism— "The  K<"Jd  men  of  Clapliam."  .  ISft 

CHAPTKK  XV. 
Wkslkv's  I.ATKK  Wolili. 

Past  throe-scoro  and  ten— His  ahility  to  sleep  like  Cladstone— PreachiiiM:  to  an  audi 
ence  of  over  thirty-two   thousand— His  last    sermon    at    the    Foundry— City  Koad 
Chi? pel— Grace  .Murray — Reminiscences  of  Newcastle— The  sad  case  of  Dr.  Dodd-  Amer- 
ican Kevolution— The  law  and  the  preacher— .John  Oliver— Kieliard  Rodda— Pris- 
on reforius—Sil;;s  Told  at  Newgate  Jail— I)(;ath  of  .John  Nelson.       .  .  .  .198 

CHAPTKR  XVI. 
Weslevan  Methodism  Ciuows. 
Personal  characters  nnd  acts  of  juen— .Tosepti   Renson— SaimicI    Bradburn— .Tamos 
Hogers— Thirty-fourth  Conference— Fletcher's  prayers  —No  dcc:iy  of  i)iety — No  sep- 
aration from  the  (;iuireh—*'Tli;' World  is  my  ])ari8h"— Thomas  Coke,  the  foumler  of 
Methodist  missions— O.no  moro  Jrisli  mob.         .  .  .  .  .  .  .  2U 

(IIAl'TKK  XVII. 
Wesley's  oi.d  At;i:  .\M)  Death. 

Strong  and  lusty  at  eighty— No  mental  decay- Fifty  years'  retrospect— Impresses  chll- 
dren—L,ast  tours — Last  conference— His  last,  the  forty-second  thousand  two  h.iin- 
dri'dth  sermon— WIlbcrforce-lMary  H  )san((uet,  the  lirst  ^Methodist  woman  preach- 
er-Death of  Charles— Death  of  .Tohn  Kleteber— "Oui-  jicople  die  well"- Adam 
Clarke — Clarke's  Conimentaries — London  .Missionary  Society- David  Livingstone- 
.lames  Creighton—Midvillc  Home— .Matthew  .loytf.  ....  .  -220 

CHAPTFl!  Will. 

Wesley  am>  His  I.sstitiiions. 

Attitude  toward  the  Cliureh  of  Kngland— Shut  out  from  pidpit  and  chiu'ch— Control 
of  property— Deed  of  Declaration— The  Constitution  o<  Wcslcyan  Methodism— Alcth- 
t)dist  I'conomy — Natural  growth— Class  meetings— Rands— Watch-night s— Weekly 
prayerineeting— The  itinerancy — liOcal  ndnislry— Uules  for  itreachers— Dispensary 
—Loan  fuml— Superannuates— The  Strangers  Society.  .....  -240 

CHAPTKK  Xl.\. 

Eni'CATION   AM»   LlTElfATflil'.  AT  WESLEY'S  DEATH. 

Schools  and  Sunday-schools— Wesley  as  author  and  i)uV)lislier— Robert  Raikes  and 
Rowlnn<l  Hill— Wesley's  Rook  Concei'n  ami  Tract  Society— The  author  of  two  hun- 
dred and  twenty.two  books— The  lii'st  W^;!^leyan  hymn  book— The  Positive  doctrines 
ofMethoUisiUi.        ............  251 


fONTKNTS. 


9 


ICO 


1S» 


I  iuidi- 

Koail 

Ainer- 

-Pris- 


19S 


2U 


■220 


240 


ClIAl'TKIi  W. 
A[KTH()1)IS.M    Kntkks  FHAxrK. 
Th.-  Chiinm.l  Jsl.in.ls-U.  Sir.,.,-  in  .I..rs,.y-r,„,t.  WVi.l.'s  .oldiors-.V.lani  (laiko  in    M 

i.uu^l.,er"-.Ios.,,„  >„„,un.  in  ,1,..  S.Mlly  IsLs-.-An-l  the  l.l.s  .UM  wait  f.,'  Mi?,!!"!'      o«o 

<  IIAI'TKH  xxi. 
AlTl.lt  rill.;   I)i;AriI  ok  n-KSMV 

'■n;:tr;;;s,;;-^;;:s;:;;:--~;:;t';;-;:;-:;:--- 
!;;i;:;;;;mS™'''"-'''"'''' '"■:■-■-:'--■"■'■-"■'"••:' '--'-." 

<  lIAI'TKlt  .\.\I1. 
SoMKMKTiioi.isT  \V„.mi;n.-Tiik  Vii,i,A(;i;  IW-acksmiih 
■■.■hn.,,iani.ye,nM„,.i,,au.,l  Mo,„an"-...M.rl.o,li..n,  opcncl  for  woman  al,u,„lant  work"- 

ami  Heroine  of  (Jeor-^u  El- 


2(i« 


not  in  eoiivent  walls"_i)inali  Kvans,  the  '•Sweet  I'reaclier 
iof^-A(laniJ5ede"-SanuielJliek,  "The  Villaf^-e  Hiaek.M.'iith.' 


278 


.361 


CHAI'TKIi  Will. 

At  Tin;  Iii:(;i.NMM;  ok  tiii,-<  (kvti-ky 

CIIAPTKi;  AXIV. 

Mktiiodism  AM)  Tin;  Stat;,  ciirKcii. 
TheLegal  Hundred-Tlie  Stale  Clnucli  aluriiiod-I  oni  K.wii,>,>  \i      ■*• 
restrictiou-The  lasl  o,.tra^es-Thc.   re v  v'      o        U     WU  n"^''"     ""  "^'•^■"-'""^ 
lishonnun-Korenzo  Dow  hol.ls  .Ir.   e^  ,  ,   „  ee    ,  '  1^7^  '         '     "^rT"''  "  '"''''''' 
.uuiuet   Kleteher-Tlu,    i-rimitivo    M^ Z^::^7 ZluS^t^'T  '"    '"■''    "" 

..van,elis,s-nar,.ey  ,anu.ud.-Cl.arh.s  ...ahanil;:;;   :  J        U~^ 

-Knngra  ,ou    to    A,neriea-Clarke-s  Connnontaries-Kinorv  visL   ,'  S^;    w     ' 

ren.'  .MUt-Seee«.u.n-Meth,,dis,  Free  (hureh-Wn.  (apersVi.sits  Kn.^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

CIIAl'TKIJ   XW. 
WkslKVAMSM    AliliOAI). 

First  missionary  to  tho  West  Indies-I.erseention-n'e.t  India  Jlissions-Convert 
ed  neKroes-Knianeipation-Kig-.t    In.n.lred    thousand    freed.ne,  ',„ 

India-Coke-s    .loath-Coylon-Missions   i„    IndiM- Ur  e.      M  7  *-"'    '" 

n.ission.-TheheroofAs,.an,ee--Thels,andWor;do         :7       ri:::t^^^ 

7^a;;sr:7^^'^;;;L;;'-^;;.:;i:r''--'- -•■■ -'™-^-;:r,:::^;'s 

•  .        .  3 

<  IIAI'TKI!  X.Wl. 

WKSI.KVAN    KmCAIIONAI,   M'OHK. 

'\«l"''''w';;,''',n;.  "tm  ","""  ,""■;.'" """-"■■■■"  ••■'">'" «'  Kh.»..v -«-„„„„„,„. 


.  325 


f   ! 


The  Story  in  America. 

(  HAl'TKU  I. 
KiKST  Tiil.vr.s. 

Pliilip  i:iiiliury— Hiirbiini  Ili'ck— The  llrst  coii.irri'f^iition  in  America— Tlio  old  Kigging 
Lol't— Ciiptiiin  Wi'bli— Tlic  lirst fli:i|U'l  in  Anici'ica — The  lirsi  Cluiri-li  in  I'liiliuleliiliiii 

—  Kinliury'sdciith— H(>l)crt  Strawhritlgf— I'icliiiril  Owen,  tirst  native  American  i)reacli- 
er— Tile  society  in  New  York— The  lirst  Viri-ania  -ociety — John  King,  the  Hero  of 
-Methodism  in  Baltimori'.  ..........      4 

(HAl'TKU    II. 
l!i;<iii..\i{  W'oHK  I5r.(if\. 

Itinerants  iroin  Eiighuul— Boardman  and  IMlnioor— .luhn  Mann — A  society  at  Boston 
—Among  tlie  French  reJ'iigees  at  New  IJochcUe— Francis  Asbiiry,  the  Methodist  Hiinni- 
l)al— St.  (ieorge's  Church,  l'liiladel]ihia — Tln^  Bayards  help  Asbnry  in  Delaware — 
I'lanting  >IethotIism  on  Staten  Island — The  cities  comfortable.  th(^  backwoods  rf)ngli 
— Asl)ury  made  snperintcndeiit — First  (,)nartcrl>-  (Onfcri'nce — Strawberry  Alley — 
Lovely  Lane— Uankiii.  ..........    16 

CIIAI'TKI!    III. 
FlKST    Tin.N(;S    AND    I!lSIN(;    Ill-.KOES. 

T'lie  First  Conlercnco— Wesley  misunderstands  some  American  needs— Robert  AVUl- 
iams,  the  personal  Book  Concern — Captain  Wcl)l)'s  di'ath — Williiim  Watters,  the 
lirst  native  itinerant — In  X'irginia  an<l  Maryland — Benjamin  Abbott,  the  Hnnyan  of 
American  .Mcthoilism— The  lirst  ajiostate— "Honest,  simple  Daniel  liulV"— Henry 
Boehm— Asbiir\-  in  ITT'J.  ..........    '26 

CHArTKI!   IV. 
l"i'  K(  rm;  l!i;\ui,fTi<)N. 

Second  Conference— Asbnry  had  the  vision  of  Adams  and  .TelVcrson— Henry  D.  Ciough 

—  I'crry  llall— "See  how  many  Africans  str-etcli  their  hand.- to  (iod"— New  laborers — 
-Catch  in  Delaware— Moli  at  Dccrlichl— Alilioit  at  Hell  Neck— Dempster— Dark  days.    S4 

(  HAI'TKI!  V. 
In  nil-;  i;i;voi.i  tion. 
\V<>sley's  advice  to  America  ii  prcachi'r--,"Savc  souls  and  leave  politics  alone"— Fourfold 
increase  during  the  war— Knglish  itinerants  leave— Asbnry  stays— "It  is  not  the 
part  of  a  good  shepherd  to  leave  his  Hocks  in  I  iaie  of  danger" — >hadl()rd  on  the  Brnns- 
wiek  eireilit— Asbury's  retreat  — liichard  Bassctt  — I'lillip  Itarratt— Asbnry  in  J)elii- 
wiire- In    the   southern  wilderness— In  German  settlements— Coke  ct)mes  to  Amer- 

(10) 


<n\TK\TS. 


11 


16 


■26 


Dl'Cl'S — 

kilavs.    a4 


spii—IJiiiikin'^'  hitor  fxpfriciici'-.  in  Aiiicricii— Native  in-i'iU'licrs  ;;r(i\v  in  jiowiT— 
Frccboni  Gurrcttson— FrcuiiiK  liif'slaves— I'l'eiiehiiif^  tDshivt's— Tiikfii  tor  Tories  mid 
iiidlibed — .Tunics  Sterliiii^:— Abbott  in  N'cw  .Fersey  mid  I'ennsylvaniii— I'liysiciil  eU'octs 
_lu  I )(;linv!U'e— Jessie  Lee— Temiister  and  elia plain— At  the  close  of  the  war.  .    41 

<  IIAl'TKIt    VI. 

loKMI.Nd    A    ClIUKClI. 

Kpiscoiial  Kstablisliineiit  <lissolve(l— Converts  anil  monilicrs  without  the  sacrmnoiits 
:iiiil  ordinances— .Slavery  and  liquor  re.soliitioiis  in  1780— \ew  circuit.s  formed— Tlit; 
I'.liio  .Funiata  circuit — (Joke,  Vasscy  ami  Wliateoat  arrive  from  Knjrlaiid— Hlack  Harry, 
"The  ^reat  oratnr'" — Foriniiifj  an  K|iiscopiil  Ohnrcli — The  First  (Ji'iieral  ('oiiference 
—Abolition  .seiitiinelit!:— Duties  of  preachers— Kelief  fund— General  fnnd.  .  .    (!0 

(HAT    Kit   VII. 

DoCrUINKS   AM)  IXSTITirTKS. 

Those  of  stati'ineiit— Those  of  experience— Formulated  Doctriiios,  not  "Tlio  skins 
of  triitlis,  dried,  stalled  and  liuiiK  'ip" — Metluxlist  Arniinianism  long  misniiderstoort 
by  Colonists  in  New  Kiifi'laiid— Tlu^  iniwritteii  creeil  of  Methodism— Genei'iil,  Annual 
and  C,tiiarterly  Conferences— The  new  church  enters  iipdii  its  career.  .  .  .71 

(IIAl'TKIt  VIII. 

To  riii-:  1;m>  <)1'  iiii;  Ci;.ntikv. 
Statistics  (>f  lis  beginniiiK — liiiilding  schools — The  rule  of  slavery — Some  slaves  set  free — 
George  Washington  dines  (Joke,  wlio  iir(!sents  an  eiiiancipation  petition — Their  views 
,,jri.,.i. — At  CharU'slon- The  lirst  eollege—Souih  (Jarolina— Georgia  —  Nova  Scotia 
—First  confeiHMice  In  New  .Jersey— Book  Concern  founded  1701 — Lee;  in  New  Kn- 
glanil— Three  women  at  Stratileld  were  the  (irst  M.  K.  eliurch  in  N'ew  England — 
First  chapel  In  Xcw  Knglaiid— Aslmr.v  in  New  Knglund— First  .Sunday-school  In 
America— Spread  of  the  Church,  17'.i-2.         .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .77 

(JllAI'TKIt   I.\. 

SCIIISM.S  AND    KMINK.Nf  CII AliACTt'llS. 

Eminent  chavaclcrs— The  llrst  discontent— ()'Kcll.\-  its  leaifcr—Hepublican  Methodists 
—Hammett—Asbury'.s  thoughts  on  Whltelleld— In  eastern  Iventucky — Asbuiy  sees 
the  lower  plantations— lie  loses  noble  friends— Abbott's  death— McKendree  the 
future  bishop —(Jeorgc  Pickering- Ezekiel  Cooper— Pennsylvania  men— Thomas 
\V.,,.e— Mrs.  Moore  at  Soutbhold— Hoston  iiniu'oves— Canii)-iiieetiug  John  Allen — 
Southern  men  in  tlie   Xortli— \\ilbialiaiii— Snctheii— Ne-w   Eughuul.  .  .  .93 

(  IIAPTEK  X. 

Wll-D    Wi;Sl'    AND    CANADA. 

The  rough  frontier— Its  llrst    preachers— (;»■  v.  Tiilin— MeCormlek  enters  a  wild  re- 
gion—The tlrst  itlneraiit— The  West  Is  good  soil— The  lirst  preaehijr  for  Canada- 
Methodism  needed  In  Canada— Tra\cl   in  central   New   Vork— Hearty   welcomes- 
Methodism  patriotic.        ...........  102 

CHAPTEK  \I. 

I'KliSONS   AND   InCIDICNTS. 

General  Conference,  177<i— School  exercisi — Punch— Losses— Coke  renros.— Dow— The 
lirst  camp-meeting— Cajitaln  IJurton— The  lirst  slavery  mob— William  Capers— .James 
Ityland— Dr.  Hush— Thomas  Sinilli— Pra\-er  test — Henry  I'.oeliiirs  work— Shocking — 
Albrights— The  Evangelical  Association— The  I'liitcd  Ibcthreii  — Mllly  llibbard— A 
IJarbarian— Nathan    Hangs— Deal li  of  P.aibaia  Heck— Ilisho])   llcilding.  .  .  109 

(  HAl'TIJI!    All. 
SoMi:  Mi:n— Tim:  W'ijst— Two  (iUNUitAi.  f  oni  kukntus. 

The  Annoyance  in  New  Englaml — (Jook's  dcliate- .Vsa  Sliinii — Kolaul  I!,  lioiicrts — 
(  amp-meelings  opening  tlu;  way— Salt  Itlvcr  circuit-Kentucky— liuliana— Illinois— 
Michigan- Asbury's  barcl  times— (ieneral  eonrerence  — Imio— First  colored  man  (jr- 
<laincd—isul— Methodism   National.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .122 


12 


C'ONTKNTS. 


(  IIAl'Ii:if  XIII. 

Mi:.V    AXU    1)()IX<J.S    ..V   TIIIO    SotTll. 

iivaiiiiiili— Siiiiiui  1  I >iiii\vooi|y— (  liiii'lcMtown—Kiclniionil— Thomas  Lyall— Alnhaiiiii— 
Lorenzo  Dow  — l^minciit  lyrcaclicrs— I,o\  iiU  I'icri-c— .John  Karly— William  (Jai)<M>— 
KvaiiN  Cliain'l— Kcvcrly  Waui,'li— Aslmiy  f,^ro\vs  old— Ottorhoiii— Death  of  Asbury 
uiiil  I. CO.       .............  132 


I  r* 


C'lIAPTKU  XIV.  *'' 

."Mi'.v  AM)  l)()iN<;s  IN  Tin:  Noktii. 

John  Kniory— .Jacob  (ii-iibcr— Taney  as  ailvocato  and  judLCi'— l{f)l)oi't  Seney— .Separa- 
tion of  Africans— AlVicaii  .M.  K.  Church— Noali  Lcviii,i;s— African  Zion  Clinrch— Af- 
rican IJeWiel  Clunch— Centi'al  an<l  weslern  New  York  — Kntranct!  into  Lyons— Will- 
iam Case— Canada— Will)in'  I'isk— Father  Taylor  amonji  the  sailors— The  lirst 
jiewccl  clnircli— Th(!  lirst  New  Kiif^land  academy— Innovations — North  (jliio— Thom- 
as Branch  at  North  Kast— Finlay's  convorsion — .lani'  Trimble— .Icsse  Walker— A 
rafjficd  i)roaclier— TakinfT  St.  Loiii.s-Succoss— .Tames  Axley— Whisky  always  Sa- 
tanic—Cart  wrifiht— Law  and  oi'der— "  I  am  old  "-.Inilf^e  :McL<;an— Henry  U-  Bas- 
com— Tliouias  A.  Morris— Jolni  I*.  Dnrl)in — Karly  Lonisiana— Bowman— A  good  horse 
—The  liist  Methodist  house— Wm.  Winans— l!()UKln>utsi(le— Nolley  .-.utfers— Nolley's 
death  —The  J mlians— Stewart  and  I'ointer— Harriet  Stuljbs — ludiaii  Mis^ions  cstab- 
hshcd ■  .  141 

cirAi'Tj:R  XV. 

LKdlSLATIOV    AND    I'SAGK. 

The  General  Conference— Its  powers— Cnioii  with  Protestant  Episcopal  Church— Me- 
Kendree  the  new  Bishop— Ills  sermon— First    Delegated   (icncral  ( onferenee — I'ews 

—  Hvil>-  Lay  delcifation— A  land  of  lilierty— The  Kny;lish  laity— Knu:lish  usaf,'e— Dis- 
a^ree^■leLt.  ............  171 

CHAl'TLli  XVI. 

Tin:  .Mktiiooist  I'lfDTKsrANi'  Ciiuitcii. 
Wm.  S.  Stockton— "Associate  Methodist  licl'oriners" — New  Chiircli — Numl)»rs  and   titli- 

—  I'eellliai'  iV-alures — (iettin;jr  under  way — T'lic  wonl  "wlnte'' — IIapi)\'  union — W  ar 
times— Failure— Wliisky— Some  day.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  17P 

CIIAl'TKK   XVII. 

Lav  DKLicd.vnoN— Thk  I'acikic  Coast. 

Earnestly  debated— Carried— sirauij;e  errand- .lastni  I^ee— Wm.  Roberts— Saved  to 
the  Nation — Model  Indian  aLrent— lioim-li  times— The  tirst  Church— Wm.  Taylor — 
The  Chinese — Otis  Gibson— Chinatown— (io  an<l  see  the  missions — Japan  Harris.         .  189 

CILVrTKH  XVIII. 

THI:   MFTIIOUIST  LI'ISCOI'AI.,  Culuch   .S^^ittii. 

Slavery  always  dividing— (Opinion  forbidden— A  Bishop  i^"  not  lik(3  other  men— Tiie 
.M.  K.  Chureli  blocked  in  the  South— The  iiievitahle— Church  gets  to  work— Appeal 
to  Ca'sar— A  good  (;hureli— A  new  colored  Church— Kifgged  l)order— The  war  recortl 
ol  t^acli  Church— M.  L.  Church  goes   South- The   longing  for  peat'c  on  both  sides 

—  Plan  of  adjustment— August  at  Capo  May— Lalioi's  of  Southern  jireacluM-s  lor  the 
slaves- (.ireat  need— I'lantation  piety— Tho  (Jlnnch  South  kind  l)Ut  crii)i)le(l— Oh  for 
union— No  surrender,  on lyadjust men t—Cliurclu if  tlu' St  ranji-ers—Vaiiderl)i It  Lniver- 
sUy— Foreign   .Missions— tJrowth   and  prospects.  .  .  .  .  .  .198 

CHAl'TKl!  XIX. 

Mktiiddism  a.moni;  tiik  Indians  and  .Mohmons. 

Wyandottes— Cruelty  of  removals— Wicked  whites— Calhoun— Neely  among  theChoro- 
kees— George  Guess— Natiomd  shame—  Vakinias— Choctaws  —  Mi-s.  Gaildis  — Col. 
UniniU— The  Six  Nations- Peter  Jones— Holy  Island— New  York  Indians— Grant's 


1 


CONTEXTS. 


nl)iiiim — 

Ar<bul'V 


132 


-fScpara- 
i-cli— Af- 
is-Will- 
lio  lirst 
-Thoni- 
ilkcr— A 
iiys  Sa- 
1{.  litis- 
)(1  liorse 
N'olley's 
IS  (.'stiib- 


141 


ch— Mc- 
!-l'o\\.- 
re— iJi^- 


171 


III  title 
u-Wiir 


179 


i'tMl      to 

iiyl  or- 
is.        .  189 


ii-Tlie 
V-iipual 
record 
1  sides 
fort  ho 
Oh  for 
'uiver- 


198 


fJhfT... 
—  Col. 
;  runt's 


13 


])()liey— (Jood    af,'eiits— {'fill— Striifirl 

,ue.,.lu.s   nrstMe,,.,distsen„onin";e^^;;;rTe!m;ie'rr"f  ''"'^^'^>- 

ITonithreo    to  twelve  thou.sau.l.     .        '"""""  ^^'"•''^'-^^''"'••''i  at  s, it    Lake  City- 

f  irAPTKi;  XX. 

Mi;rii«)ijisM  IN  Ai'uiCA. 
Liberia— A   good   eonntrv— "  A[v   ,.niti>,i,  •■     i   . 
woman  au.l  her  power-A  uo,L  wllv-'uT  We!;,,  Khr'tT^'  recove,,.-A   lone 
...en-Ann  Wilkins-I'rosperitv-Zoda-  V  h     n  Kroon.an-Three  work- 

names-The    Slavr  Pons-xhe  last  white  <->ven,or- y,,,,-  life- Metho.list 

an   Alriean    15ishop_ni„..„.  Gllbcn  Uav.-rKhe'r  '"'?'' f^"^^"'^-'''-  '"■'•"s 


at  sclioo! 


—  IJisliop    M-,„.  Taylur.  -Jio 


CllAI'Ti:i!  XXL 

•MF.TlIOnr.SM  IX  CIII.N.V  AXDJmmn 
Its  niitset— Foocllow— li(,m,il'ilin-     tu.  <•     .  , 

ver.-The  tirst  preachel^^^s  Si:      !    ^u   ,:::!;^^>;-'->'-nP- Wiley-The  hrs,  eon- 
WileyVsdea,h-U„spital-K  uran,./,       .  Vi         ,M        ■  """"  — ^   ^'"""  ''""i'.v-  Hp. 

oniu.  pre..„M.ikado  ,.wai.d,n;s:ii-r:  ^^''!;'T;!:;r''r-:''''^^ 

•n  .rapan-Iapa-iese  in  Cali.ornia-Corea  ..ntered  in  .^.^j"^-^'^^"";'^  thrive-s.hools 

ClLM'TKlt  xxir. 
-MlOTiloIJISM  1\  Jxj,!^. 

The    Last   India   Coni])iinv  hinders-W,,,     i'„ti 
Siidis-Tho   lirnt  .ser,nonL.M,„,it   the   n   UK  ■'      r^^^ 

p.-oaehingtake«-Lneknow-Varh,s  si,  io""^  ^;"-'  l-'«a.hing--M,.,hodlst 
-Child  .narria^es-ilindoo  ^om^Z^r^y  Z:^;?'^''^  ""'"  ^""— ^■-eh 
-Miss  J.ore-s  niedieal  pnn.,i<.e-Then  tl     t   vm"m,  ^^^<''•'^-^"methin^^    prineely 

--rd    <.t-..ierit-Kd„ea,i„„_w,,,    '";;,V''^^^^^^ 
seainan-s  work-U...,oon  and  suj^':^,:;;:^-'::::::::'   ''■  '^•;«'"urn-caleutta- 

ClIAPTKU  XXIII. 
'^^'■-■''"'"""'  '^-  ■^••••■'■"  AM>  f.,.AM,s„  AMI-KICV 

■\:rThr^L;:;t^;::i: JS:;;^-''-  -  --l-nnenos  Ayres-l>en.pster- 
-••ears..„_The   sontnern,   ost  "n,  •     k'"""'   ■^'•■'""'"-^h    Indian    in  nni.orin 

Imil   «'fMontezunui-Adversaries-Mo   .  ,7  •         '''''■'■'-^^''''-  ''"H''''-Tlio 

.Mob.s_i  nebla-L,„.,,„nre   and  sehools-Me.Meo. 

CIlAl'TKI;  XXIV. 
iMKTiroDisM    IN-  H|{()1>1- 

The  work  iH.gins  here-1'astor  Ile.lstroni's    l{e,h,.|     p,„", 
la.alofthe  nn,h.i.,d,t  sun"-,;,,,,,.   „    „    .    '     '"'-^'^^  '^^'•'^">'  f^'oes    to    Norway-.-The 
The  tirst  M.  K.  Cluirel.-l,.  ..j;  '".'•''''''"•  ^  "  ^''"'-^-^n  -  Swe,lish   hiws- 

-rvi,.,.-,„,   any    ..„„.,.,.  K,,,:,"-?;        ~^'''';:^  to  Italy-.Iis  lirst 

iuitomo-Tiio  ro,,f  i.ast-A   Cn.e  ai  :-v:;;^;'T  '~l'"^'^ 

i'auI-A  lo..^-snir,.rin.^nM^opl,._A  poor  priest    Th~^-     7     '"'''"'  '"   ''^■■•'^■^••^-^'ii"t 

(.iovernn,..nt'sat,i,n.k-    „,war,l  >I  ., hJ;   ti         ^''     ,r""''''''~'^'""'""-J'"-^-^i'^>' 

f-tsof  ,helMss„.Tu..kish  war-w';  "-.*;'■  ""'"""  "•  '-■  ^"»••'^"-'^'■■ 
atnro-Tlie  w„rk  tak,.,  ,.,  ,1,,.  „i,,  U,nm  ~n  \'^l  I'T"-  ••"'"•"•''-J"foby-Li„.r- 
I'ard  na,n,.-A.la,u.,.e,.n.,u..re,l-  lu         vTi  '■""'   ""-'-'a.'.v  .■no.'l-A 

ucation-liisl,,.piiu,.s,-i;,.su!,V.  ;^  •'""  ^"""J"^">-^''''^''-^-^witzcrIand-l-:,|. 

<  HAI'TKK-  XXV. 
^ .      .,,,  ^'""'■'-  ^"•'>"""^^'  AM.  s,o„,  (  „ax,;k  „f  Usa,;f 

";c:^;,^:i™^;;;:s.;:i;t;;:;,:^i:;;;-;;:i;;;;.:;: -.-..u.«,„-x„.,,„.._ 


•24-2 


•262 


283 


293 


317 


14 


(•(>NTr:NT,- 


k 


il 


(  IIAI'TKI;    XXVI. 
.MKriini>i>i  l.rri:i!.\Tfi!i:. 

Woli-v  ii>  iiiillior— (  li;nli-»  ii>  pucl  — Wcslcyim  JiooU  Hodiii— Tlic  ISiioK  (  oni'ci'ii  — Il.s 
lliiiinccs— rcriodii'iil: —  Success  —  Siiiidays-ehoil  IiiHtitiltcs—  Kiliiciilioiial  Scicicly — 
(.'liildrcnV  l>iiy— Kluiiiicut  men— SiiiimicrllcM— ('ookiimn— Simiison.      .  .  .  •I'.N) 

<  llATTElt  -WVJI. 

Mkiiiodism  a.mom;  riri:  Kkkkhmion. 
Great  needs  -Not   of    ifi'vei'iniieiitMl.  but   of  eliiirelil>-   elVoit  — Mow  tlie   work   bciraii  — 
Ti'ials   -  Illiteracy—  Jiiipi'inciiient  —  Ili^'lier  Schools  —  I'lark   liiivei'sity  —  A'ariows 
institutions— Hopes.        ...........  Xii* 

(  IFAI'TKI}  X.WIII. 
Methodist  Hkskvolknces. 
Missionary  Society— The  Clmrcli  Soiitli— Cliurcli  Extension,  s.  S.  I'nion — Trad  Socie- 
ty—W.  !•'.  M.  Society — \V.  II.  M.  Society — Education— Some  institutions  presented  — 
lioston  Theolofriciil  Scliool— Garrett  ISiljlieal  rustitut<'— Drew  Seminary— We-leyan 
University  -Oliio  Wesleyan  I  niversity— Nortli  Western  rniversity— Vauderliili  I'ni- 
versity.  ..........  .  .  344 

<  IIAI'TKU  XXIX. 

Mktiiodist  HiSIIOl'.S. 

From  Coke  to  Hamline  previously  given —Janes  — Scott  — Simpson  — Rakor  — Ames 
— I  lark  —  Thompson— Kingslity — Howman — Harris—  Foster —  Wiley  —  .Merrill  —  An- 
(Iri'ws— Haven— I'eck— Warren— F'oss-IInrst — K.O.  Haven— Nindc—Walden— .Mai la- 
lieu— Fowler —  .Missionary  llishops- Rurns — Rolx  rts— Taylor— Risiiojis,  wh\-  given  — 
Bishops  of  the  Church  South— From  Sou'e  to  l>off!.'ett  i)rcvi(>usly  jrivcn— Wishtman— 
Marvin— McTyeire— Keener— Granbery-P.Trker— Wilson— Ilargrrove— Duncan— Cinl- 
loway— Hendricks— Key.  ..........  .3,")H 

(  HAJ'TKli  XXX. 
Kkckn  r  Kv.\N(iKi.isTs. 

The  First  Methodist  preachers  evangelists— In  tlie  early  Church— Prpaehing  the  chief 
work— The  modern  evangelist  a  ^fethodist  iiroduct— Dow— Moody— His  youth— His 
beginnings— .Sankey— Their  work  altroart- ISIoody  at  Xorthlield— Women  as  labor- 
ers—Mrs. Van  Cott— Frances  K.Willard— Methodist  teinperanc( — TIios.  Harrison  — His 
various  labors— Indianapolis— Cincinnati— Decatur— Sam  Jones— iris  aiipearance 
and  muiuier- Inagrandchoral— Sam  Jtnies  in  Cincinnati— Sam  Small— Hejircscnta- 
tives. 420 

CHAPTKK.WXI. 

(   IIAI    T.VItJlA. 

The  Lake— .1.  H.  Vincent- His  (>nrly  laboi's- Unity  of  Sunday-school  work— I'niform 
lessons  —  Pleasant   nnil'ormity  —  The   ])lace   chosen — Various   Churches — Tlu'    lirst 
branch— The   C.  I..S.  ('.—Its  work,  how  done— Firsl  graduation— Other  courses- Col- 
lege of  Liberal  Arts— School  of  Theology — .TeiMisalem  Chamber— Literature  —  Chau- 
tauqua nmltiplied— Chantanqua  illuslrates  .Methodism  ....  .  44S 


The  giT.wtli  ot  one  is  good    fo 
l)i'osi)ec; .      .  .  .  . 


CHAl'TF.i:    XXXII. 

Fl-TIUK    MKTIIODISM. 

all— No    new    doctriiii 


ov    iisage- l{ctrodi)ect    and 


4.'i!> 


•5*f*ti'**^*f*    ^'•' 


The  Story  in  England. 

Bri.FAST  roM.KfJR,  IriKT- AM) full  pilfrc 

r.iiVN!.,  Haiti, !■:  oi'  rui:  (.''■""(  <i  rare,  print)  (rlcel  jiniuli) lull  jui^'i' 

l!i;lsTOI„  Kx<a.ANr),  View  ok  (from  a  rare. print) lull  iini^d 

r.i  DniiisTTKMi'i,!:,  Sacked  Gahdens  or lull  piujc 

Cii AUTEii  House 

(11 A  I!  IKK  Ilorsi;  Sciiooi.  and  Plav  Guoixd 

{'iiim;si;  Pagoda,  Alt  a  it  oi- lull  puK'' 

CiTv  Koai)  Ciiaimcl,  London,  Knoland 

Cirv  KoAD  Ciiapei.,  rNTiMMoi:  oi- 

Ci.AKKE's,  Adam,  Monument 

C'LAitKE's,  Adam,  Sciiooi,. mouse  and  Ciii'kcii,  Pout  sri;\VAi!T,  Ikklwd 

(OM  EHExiE,  The  Fikst 

((H!K,  luEUAND,  Attack  ON 'Methodist  CiiAi'i'.i,  .'.T 

Dki.iii,  India,  Inteuiou  oi'  Mo'^<>ie  at 

IHIil.IN,  IHEEANI),  New  MeTIIODIST  Co  I, I, El,  i;  at 

Knniskielen,  Iueeand,  in  IT.'iS,  \\v.\y  nv  (from  a  rarr  /iriiit'  '^tccl  jlniuli' full  i);i;;t' 

Kl'WOKTII    Pauson.voe 

Fi,etciiek,  John,  P.ikihpi.aci;  oi' 

Forx! 'UV  CHArEi,,  The  ( )i,i > 

Gl,AS(iOW,  .SCCTUAND,  ViKW  OI"  {I'nnii  (I  I'tire  jiriiit)  (ulee!  fiiiisli' lull  ii;if,'(' 

IIlALV   ON    ATHI.ONE  ClKCl n 

Initial  I,.e iteus,  TJecinnini;  i;ach  Cha iteu 

KiNi;s\vooD,  KxoEAND,  New  School  at 

],iiNlioN,  KN(;lani),  View  oe  (troma  rare  jiritit)  {atril jXnish^: lull  iniiit' 

I,()\  E  KEAsr  Tl(  IvET,  SPECIMEN  OE  A 

,Manciii;stei!,  Knoland,  View  oe  [from  a  rare  iiriiil)   (sleet  jiiiinh^ full  pMt^c 

Moiu'.iNo  A  .Methodist  1'i!i:acheu 

Newcastle,  Knoland,  \'iew  oe  Q'roiii  <i  rare  print)  (>!t,(l  jini^li) lull  pairc 

New(  Asii.i;  oiti'HAN  House, Old 

Newcasile  Oui'HAN  House,  New 

Ni'.wi;ate  Jail,  London,  Knoland,  K.\teuioi4  oe   C'"''"'"  "  rurc  i  rint)   (sfer/  nnisli 

full  p;iy:i' 
Nevvi;aTE.Tail,  John  Wesi.ev  Pkeaihini;  to  Piusuneus  in 

(I.XEOKD,  ENOLAND,  \IEW  I(I',  SI  low  I  NO  (   IIKIST  (  'IlUltCJl  (  (>l,I.i;(;i;  instil  /  Jill  i.ill,   lull  pllLIl' 

I!l(  IIMOXD  TlIEOLOlilCAI,  iNSTIll HON 

SlIEl'EIELD,  Kn(!LAND,  VIEW  OE  (/nun  d  rare  print)  [stcil  jinisli) lull  piiiri' 

SlinniELD,  (HAltLI'.S  \Vi;si,EV  IN  A  MOP.  AT 

Slli;il'!EI,D,   Weslev   CoLLEOE 

Sri!i!EV  (IIAPIM,,  London,  Kni;i,and,  Kowland  Hii.i,  Pi;i;a(  hino  in  j'rom  a  nn-r  print) 

SUUUEV  TlIEAIEU,  LoMniN,  I.NOl.AND  (from  (ivdrc  print)    (steel  Jhii.i/i) lull  \);rj:r 

St.  Giles'  (ihimh,  (kippleoa  ii:,  J,onI)on,  Knoland  yfro'n  <i  mreprint) lull  \y,\'Ae 

St.  Ives  ,  KniM.AND,  \1EW  or  (I'rtnn  <i  rare  print)  (stee/  Jinisli) 

Tail  Pii:ces,  Ornamental,  Kndino  Diei  ehentChapii-hs 

(V>) 


l.-'l 

i;i4 

41 

■MO 

\m 

'20(1 
1.-.0 


.»■! 


i:is 

•2.'n 
:!(i;5 

140 

74 

ss 


:',ir, 

■J-.':! 

s.", 

i:io 
l-JT 


•21  |S 

■JO'.I 

48 

:!(•: 

10.-, 
107 

IS! 

JS2 

:is 

.1(10 


u\ 


iLi.rsruATioNs. 


(,,< 


(H 


'I'm  TU.KS,  IKKI.AM),  Wi;>I.F.V AN  CllAl'Kt,  AT 23!) 

'loMiA,  Fiji  Islands,  liitsr  .Mission  JIousk  at 3.J4 

Tki:>i;(  ca  C()Li,i;(ii;,  Wai,i;s !»."i 

W'KSM.v,  .Toil V,  AM)  lliCAi:  Nash 70 

\Vi:si,i;v,.ToiiN-,  WiiKS  a  (  iiii.ii  m'  I'i ano 118 

M'Ksri.KV,  .Ion  X,  AM)  Till-;  I  lis  nop 'i\ 

Wi;si,i:v,  .loiiN,  KscAi'i;  ritoM  ISiumm; .'J'.i 

Wi.si.KV,  .John,  I'lfKAiiiiso  on  His  Katiiku's  Tomii lull  i>ii,ii,'c    so 

\Vi;si.KV,.IoiiN,  ri:i;A(iiiNi;  in  a  J'ltn  ati;  Hoi  si; ITS 

\Vi>i.KV's,  John,  I)i;Ai'ii-m:i> lull  ikij^Sc  -JiO 

\\i;>i.i:v,  UrsTS  and  Moni'mknts  ok  .Ioiin  and  Ciiaiu.ks,  in  \Vi:siminsti:k  Aitiii.v, 

riiUimtrc  IKi 

\Vi.si,;;v,  ^MoNi'MENT  at  Criv  ItoAi)  Ciiai'KI lull  |)ii;r<;  "201 

M'Ksi.KV's  Ti!i:i;, -John,  Winciiki.ska,  IInci.and •21.'> 

W'KSi.r.VAN  NoiiMAi,  sciiooi.,  \\i:m  .MiNsii;it,  Kni;i.an|) full  \k['^v  .'{JS 

Wkstminsi'du  AI!Hi;v,  Noitiii  \ii;\v  or lull  |i;i^'t'  117 

WiiiTKi'ir.i.D's  llorsi;,  (iriLi'ouD,  Connkctk  it 17'J 

\ViiriT;rii:i.i)'sTo.Mi!  in  CiiruciiAT  Ni:\vm  inrour,  Massaciiisktts  full  \Kfj:v  174 

PORTRAITS. 

.John  \Vlsi.i;v  {•'liil  purl  rail) front  is\)ioc« 

Hknson,  .Tosi.rii  (s/<il  jiiiish) cixbiiu't  -291 

IJlNTlNO,  Jaiii.z  Oiclihi;/) ;-;il)ir.et  'JSi; 

C A LV I N,  .Ton N  (sli'i'ljui hli) vignette  groiii)    47 

Cauvosso,  \Vii,i,ia:\i -JlMi 

Clakki:,  Ada.m,  {ntciljiiiish) lull  \<i\}n'.  S-i-i 

Clowks,  \V 1 1,1,1  am  (etmiiKj) ciibiiii'i  i'M 

CoKi;,  Thomas -JIO 

KVANS,  1  )IN All  {atet  I  finish) •J7S 

Ki.i;i( Ti i;i{,  .loiiN  (t^li'i'ljiii i.ih) full  pii^ie  ItIS 

Fi,i:tciii:u,  AlAitv  IJo8AN(,uia' ■i-.'7 

UlI.I,,    l{(  )\VI,AN  D ISO 

JIlN  llNtilJON,  Si:  1.1  N  A,  ('oinhiss  ok l);5 

JoiisoN,  Fukduk;  .T.  (I'lchinr/) cabinet  :!31 

Kll,ll  AM,  A  I,i;\  ANDKIt 2()S 

Knox,  .Iohn  {stciljiiii.ili)    vignette  f^'inui)    47 

Llvi;sK> ,  .John— TlIK  Fikst  Tkktotalek  {stael  Jinisk) cabinet  -211.) 

I„IVIN(iSTONK,  T)AVII) cal)!!!!'!  -IM 

J.lTlIKl!,  :Mautin  {a/ecijiiii.sh) viunielle  (jrroui)    47 

31i;lanctiion  {steel jinish) vignette  f^roup    47 

Kki,so\,  John !)!) 

Nkwion,  .Iohn   {.itcd  fmi'ili) 1!)> 

Nkw  r(  )N,  KollKUT  {ftchhii/) eabiuet  -283 

Oc ; i,i;tii( )in'K,  Gen.  Ja.mks  {steel  jlnisli) ;Vi 

I'lNCiioN,  William  >roKLi:v  {ctchiuij) cabinet  .i.'Ji 

Kaiki:s,  l!oin;i!T  {^tul finish) cabinet  2.")3 

l{I(a,,.lAMK>ll.  {etdiiiiij) calnnet  32!) 

Ko(,i:i!s,  llKSTKK  Ann -^77 

Tauaia,  Tin:  .sava(jL ;{jl 

Tk.  Koric,  The  (iiKisiiAN ;{jl 

\Vats( )n,  lUciiAUi) •>73 

Wksi.kv,   (iiaklk.s  {(ti-hinij) full  pafje    44 

\VLSl,l;V,  SAMILI ^(J 

Wlslio  ,  .sisANNA  {sti'llfinish) full  iiaye    32 

A\'  Ks  1 1. 1 : > ,  . J oi I N irt 

Whiikkikld,  Gv.okuv.  (steel finish) full  i)iige    M 

\ViLin;i!Koi{Ci;.  \Vm.  {siri-l  finish) lull  page  312 

ZiNZINDOKK,  COKNT  OK  CXK  KOLAS  Li'D^viG)  {Steel finish) 143 


23!> 

3J4 

<.),"i 

70 

118 

n 

;j'j 

lull  im.m'    Hit 

ITS 

riill  inigf  --'5 
I  Aitiir.v, 
lull  i)ii;;('  IK! 
.full  i)!i,i,'(;  -JOl 

'^75 

■  full  \K\iXi'  :!-2S 
.  lull  ii;ij,'i'  117 

17-2 

.full  pMnv  174 

..fabini't  -291 
..:'ul)ir.('t  '-'f<(5 

ttc  group    47 

ilMl 

.lull  i)iiK(!  -IM 
...ciiliiiH'l  -^DS 
210 

-278 

full  piiw  Its 
127 

ISO 

'.« 

..cabinet  331 

2(i8 

tii3f,n()ui)    47 

.  .cabinet  ill.") 

.(•abini't  237 

III'  ^iroup    47 

tc  f,n'oui)    47 

!K) 

I'.t2 

rabiuot  2S8 

r)2 

cabiiiut  3.34 

(•aliinct  2.'>3 

.(•alMut't  32',) 

277 

.321 

321 

273 

ull  page    44 

•2(> 

I'ullpiige    32 

'2.'> 

jull  i)!ige    .">5 
lull  page  31-2 

143 


^A^,*i*t^f^*^  ^*-' 


The  Story  in  America. 

Amaz()m.\.v  Indians  WousuiriNO  the  Rising  Sun mil  page  2si 

Rai.timokk,  FiiiST  Mktiiodist  rnrAniivd  iv luii  page    II 

JSAUiMOKi:,  AUUi:>i TING  TIIK  JNlKl  UUUI.S  I S  IN 13 

lULTIMflKK,  CKNTKNAH V  ISmUCAI.  INSTITI'TE 3,V. 

l!Al,ri.M()Ui:,  RloiNT  %i:i{N()V  IM.ach  (  iiri{(  ii full  page    22 

UAlUliLLV  ,  lAUIA,  IIOMK  iUU  hxUX  iMiSSIONAlUKS lull  page  '2t;s 

TlAKIKT.T.V,  iNniA,  MISSION  HoMR  A.S'I)  Ouril AN AfiK full  page  2fii; 

IjAKKArX'.S  CUAl'EL,  DKLAWAUK 4li 

Bl,  VflC  IlAKKV (H; 

Bu(tK  CONCKUN,  MKTUODIST,  XKW  YOKIC ;1,! I 

BdSTON,  FlUST  MKKTINO-HOrSE  IN 8i> 

Bii.sTON  Umveksit V  scuooi,  OF  TiiEOLOG  V full  page  3.51 

Bkkmkn,  Church  and  Tract  House 315 

CaMV  MEETTXC.,  PiNNKK  AT IflS 

t'ESTIUS,  PVKAMIU  OE,  AND  CE.METEUV,  llOME,  ITALY  {ntceljiilish) lull  page  3(14 

Chautauqua,  New  York,  View  of.  full  page  4l."( 

ClIAirAUQUA  T.AKE.VlKWOI' ill 

CllALTAUy UA,  An  Aeternoon  at T'.t 

Chautauqua, Ouientai.,  House,  Museum  and  Bazar  at full  i)at;c  447 

Chautauqua,  PHiL()S()rHYHALL.AT 4:.o 

Chautauqua,  Van  Lennap  Exi'laininu  Models  of  I'alestine  at full  ]>agc  4H) 

CHINESE  HCRIRE full  page  StiO 

CllUISTlANA  CllURCU,  NORWAY 'i'M 

Chii'I'ewa  Indians,  Baptism  nr  Torcu-ligut  of 220 

Den  vi:u,  Colorado,  Univershv  oe Mo 

■F:A(iLE  Hill,  IMadras  Presidency, India,  View  of full  page  2.")!> 

Five  Points  INIission,  New  York  City —  r.i7 

Fooniow,  CHINA,  View  of full  page  242 

Foociiow,  China,  Mission  Sunday-school full  page  247 

Father  Time 402 

Forty  Fort  Church 7o 

Fu.iis  AN,  J  A  FAN,  Mount  of I'.iT 

Gammon  School  of  Theolouy',  Atlanta,  GEOR(iiA :M3 

GARRETT  BIULICAL  INSTITUTE,  AIeMORI AL  IIaLL  OE .i.'i2 

Heck  Hall,  Garrett  Biulical  Institute I'l 

HINDU  Women  Rescued  from  Degradation full  pagi^  273 

Initial  Letters  Be(;innin(',  Kach  Cii after 

India,  ISIissionarv  Tent  Liee 272 

India,  Graduating  (Jlass 277 

India,  Teaching  in  a  Zenana 27ii 

John  Street  Parsonage,  New  York  City,  Old 10 

John  Street  "  Old  Wesley  Chai-el,"  New  York  City 7 

MoAii,  Model  of  JNIountains  of lul 

Monrovia,  President  Roberts'  House  at 234 


(17) 


l^ 


ILIA  .STIJATIONS. 


Ml »s?j:m  T«< •  V ■.'fil 

Nasiivii.m:,  Ti:nnk.«i,si;i;,  \i;\v   Mi  KisDini;  M.  i;.  (  in  urii  Sin  rii  at lull  piitfo  174 

\i;\v  VouK  (  ITV,  ST,  I'Ai  r,'«.  .M.  !■;.  (  iiriirii lull  \<mh'     s 

NOUTIIW  l>Ti;U.V  I'.MVKUMTV,  KVA.V.NTIJN,  Jl,l.l.\t)lft lull  pUgc    111 

OCEAX  (il!i)\  i;  (AMPMKKTIXd  ( JUOINK II'.' 

OHIO,  Filial'   Ml.KTIMillniM;  in m7 

OHIO  \Vi:.sLi:vAN    l,Mvi;usn'v :\M 

riiKisi;,  Cilixv,  ViKAV  OF full  page  •-'."i.! 

l'iiii.Ai)i;i,i'iii  \,  Si.  (ii;oi!i;i:'s  .M.  l).  (  iirucii II 

l!li;i.l.M.  l.ol  r/l'iii';  oi.n,  Ni;\v  \i>\ili  (  [iv (! 

l!i)\ll.,  ITAI.V,  SI.  I'Ai  i;s  Jl.  K.  (  riiKi  II .'i07 

1!  I  SSI  AN-  M.  K.  <  iiAri;i„TiiK  Oni.i 3i)l 

Ki  ixi:i>  TiJ.Mii.iis 40 

St.  soimii a,  Ci )ns lANTiNori.K,  Mosi^ri;  or 240 

SA.V  FHANt  1M  < ),   FlUST  M,  K.  t llLKCll li)i 

San'  Fi!an(  is( oCiiinesi;  Mission ."H) 

Sanannaii,  <ii;i)ifi;iA,  \Vi:si.i,v  Mom'mkniai,  ('iirufii  a  r full  piiirn  ioi) 

Salt  I.akk  C'itv, M.  K.  Culiicu  at til 

SI, A VI',  Siiir J:.,") 

Tail  I'ii  it  s  Kndino  J)iffkiii;n  r  (Tiai'ikus   

Ti  IIK  I.N  ro,  (  an  AD  A,  .MKTUOI'dLI  IAN  .Mktuouist  C'lIirUC'lI lull  pllgU   107 

t'MVr.IiSITV  OF  TIIK  P  M'IFir 104 

\'ANi)i;i!r.ii.irM\i:i{siiv •.'!:{ 

W'FSI.KVAN  rNIVI.HSnV,  .MIDDLKTOWN,  CONNi;CTiriIT ;i."i4 

W II. UK  A II  AM  Ac  AIIK.MV 141) 

PORTRAITS. 

Matiiikw  Simpson  (■•'li' I /mrti-aii)  frontispiece 

.V.MKs,  Kdwauu  1!.,  Uisiioi' ;j()7 

A  n  i)i!i;\\ ,  J  AM  i;s  ( > •>()() 

ANi)iii;\vs,  Kdwaki)  G.,  JUsuof 38i 

AUMIMIS  {.■<lirlj'i;iiik) iMbillCt    73 

Asuiruv,  Fkancis,  P.i<iioi' 19 

IJANiis,  Nathan  (.aieel  jlniih) ea Ijinet  120 

Bakkh,  Osmon  C,  V.i.siioi- XM 

I5ASCOM,  lIi.NUVlJ h>-2 

IJOKIIM ,  1 1 1  N  l{  V U(j 

HosK,  1!  A.M  (  iiiNi)i;i: -llS 

JiOWMAN,  'I'llDMAS,    IJlsllOP ;J74 

I5i:iiiii;i;,  Lnn  ,s  II Vhi 

I'.icKi.KV,  .Tamics  ^I :ii!t 

Burns,  Fr.vncis,  Bisiior 400 

Cauman,  Ai.I!i:i!T,  nTsiioi' 10,") 

Cait;i!s,  William,  itisiior !.!,•) 

CAMi'iii;i.L,  .lAiiKZ  I'lTT,  IJisuor 113 

C AUTWIUG HT,  rKTEIl 158 

Cask,  M'ii.i.iam 14G 

Chinksk,  Fiiis t,  Convekt,  ITij  Po Mi lahinct  2iii 

(TIINKSI-:  .MLVISTKUS,  roUTKAITS  OF  I'lU.ST glDUp  'Jli) 

Cl ai:k i:,  T>.vvis ^V asgatt,  Bishop .")09 

CooKMAN,  Ci:oi!(;k  G cabinet  :)34 

CLHU V,  J >ANII,L ,528 

Docir.KTT,  T>A viD  Seth,  Bishop in9 

Dow,  J.IJUENZO 123 

DiruiHN,  Joiix  ruicE KM 

Dt'NCAN,  William  Wall.vce,  Bishop -IK! 

Eahlv,  John,  Bishop 407 

Eiiitruv,  I'liiLiP 4 


II: 


ILM  >TK.\TI<)NS. 


lit 


EMoRV,  .TolIN,  Hl'Ilnl' I|.> 

1  IM.I.V,.lAMi:»  IJ l.Vj 

1  I.-K,  '.Vll.lItU lis 

KosH,  (viirs  1).,  nisiioi' ,^y,, 

>(i>ii;ii,  ItANKoi.i'M  >.,  IliMim .i;; 

I  n\Vl.i;il,  (  llAlll.i;.sll.,  I'.IMKil' , ;ji).| 

(lAi.i.iiw..^ ,  ('.  11.,  Uisiinr 417 

(J A itiii:Tis< IN ,  Fui:i;iii >un ,vi 

(il.oliiil.KNOf'II,  Jllsllni- 17.-, 

tiKAMli;U^.  -John  C,  J!l>lliir Ill 

CiiiANT,  ^I.v.s.sI;HSIMl•S(J^(s^•c^/^)i^5/0 lullicuf  -iiii 

(jIllt<"Ni  *JI'^ !'•»' 

IlAMU:«K,  T-F.nxinAHL.,Hisii<)i' ;5,-,H 

Jl  AKItIS,  Wll.l.I  A.V.  l..,]HSl!(ll' ,i7l| 

II  AVIS,  (ill.llKIlT,   lilSlluP ,{>» 

j1am:n,  KltASll  .s(».,J{|SII<)|' ;;i)j 

llAKillil>\  K,  IJollKKT  K.,  r.ISIlOr 41.". 

llri>1iIN(i,  Kl.I.IAU.r.ISlini' !■.>;! 

JllNliKlX,  KLLilONlO,  JJlSIKH' 41,S 

lli;(  K,  TlARUAllA :. 

III  I!.-*  1,. John  F.,  liisiioi' .iitii 

jANKs,  F.DMfM)  S.,  nisiior ;>,(;ii 

JoNiiS,  .Sam cabiuot  4:i.'i 

Kavan AUfiii,  ITniiiiAui)  II.,  Bishop 4i)S 

K  iiM.ii,  .Toiix  Ciiui.STi.VN,  IJisiioi' 41:; 

l<i:v,J«).'<i;i'HS.,UtSH()i' 4r.> 

K1.M..SLLV,  Calvin 3'U 

M  Ai.i.A i.lKr,  WILLAUI>  F. ,  r.isiior ;);i7 

Makvix,  Knocu  M.,  BisHui' 4 1 II 

AI i: liiiii.T.,  .si  r.nii-.N  IM.,  Bisikm' ;isi 

>1(  <   A1!K,  CllAlU.KS  C ;iH 

M(  Ki:xiii!i:r.,Wii.MA.M,  Bisiior 9ri 

.M(  Kkan,J( hiK 1(!1 

3I(  TvKiiu;,  Holland  N.,  Bisiioi- 411 

;MII.M".I{,  LKWIS  (stecijiiiish) cnliuirt  447 

Hlociiiv,  Dwiiiin  L I'lilpini'l  4H 

MoKlU.s,  T110MA.S  A.,  Bl.S'UUl' Ha 

310 


Xast,  William. 


NiNDK,  William  X.,  Bisiiui' 

Olin,  STEniEN 

Paink,  IJoiiKKT,  Bisnor 

j'AKKEu,  Linus,  Bisiioi- 

Pkck,  Jkssi;  T.,  Blsiiop 

PiKUCi:,  Gi:oU(iK  F 

Uankin,  Thomas  (steel  JinUIi) 

UoiiKUTS,  .ToiiN  W.,  Bisiior 

liOHKltiS,    UoliKUT    HiCUIOltl),  BiSllOl'. 

K(»IiKKTS,  B.  T.,BlSH01>  (steel Jill Uh)... 

Sankky,  Ik  a  D 

St'oTT,  Levi,   Bi.siior 

Simi'.sox,  Matthkw,  Bishop  (sterl finish). 


.cabiuet 


.cabinet 


s;\'\l rabiiit't 


Smalt.,  .^am 
Sni.thkn,ni<  holas 


J. 


.rabinct 
.cubiiiet 


St()<  TON,  Thomas  llKWLiKiis 

STK A WIIKIDI I F.,  UOIIFHT 

SummkukiklI),  John  (steel  finish) full  pajro 

Swain,  Cauuik  .M 


;i',t:! 

i;n 
4i»; 

41.". 
3S.5 
407 

•24 

401 

vy> 

318 
4'2.') 
'M-i 
3i!4 
47.i 
100 
337 
181 
1-2 
33.-. 
■271 


ILLl>«Ti;ATl()N>i. 


Tm  i.ou,  Ki>w\i{i>T IM 

'I'a*  i.iiii,  W  ir.i.iAM,  HiMHd' iMliliift  Krj 

TlOM'^ON,  i;ii\\  AUlJ,  lilMIOI' llTll 

TuiMiii.i:,  ,1\\\:  (.Htfi'ljliii^h) ciiliiiut  1..4 

Van  < orr,  Mits.  MAiiiiii: do 

VAMiKUitii.T,  <:<)U.M;i.ir.s(.«.7((7/J)i(.<7(, caliliirt  lU 

viNci.M,  Jdiivir mj 

WAi(r:,',''iii(M AS ;i7 

^V^l{l!l,^,  ilKMiV  W  .,  Iiisiitii' :<H' 

Wasui N(i  i< )N,  (jliM )i!(,  i;  {sicel  jlninU) ciiljiiict    T!» 

\V Ar-fiii,  I'.rvr.iti.v,  IWsiioi' i;!7 

Wiiiii,  t  Ari\r\  Thomas 9 

WlIATCiOAl',   Ifl(IIAltl),   IMSMOI' t'fct 

WILKV,  Isaac  W ,(79 

Wl I.KINS,  A N\  {utevljlniHli)  ciihliift  ■.'.'tl 

WKiiriMA.N,  W.M IIIS 

Wii.i.AKi),  FijANrr.s  K *;1J 

WiNAXS,  WiT.I.IAM  {^tfilfinhh  ) I'UljllU't    107 

Wai.hkn,  Joiiv  ."\r.,  I'.isiior .to.') 

Wilson,  Alimieis  W..  .  Ill 


1» 


I  !" 


It' 


}  h 


150 

.iMiiiiict  un 
;t7o 

.(■ilMiu't  l.')4 

i:i() 

ciiliiiK't  Hi 
MO 

!t7 

:;s7 

.cabluut  Tit 

1.17 

9 

(U 

:)70 

.<'al)lni>t  -iltl 

.(IIS 

I.'.l! 

cilbliu't  1(17 
HO,') 

m 


'•'^'Jtiir^ 


'»*»«i.ii.t-.-»ij-  1^ 


CIIAITKi;    I. 

77/r  ( )r!>ilii  nj'  Ml  flidil Ism. 

'()  THINK  (if  Mctliodisiii  mscoh- 
"'-  lined  to  M  l»i;ili(li  of  llic  ( Jcii- 
<'i':il  ( 'liiircli  would  Im-  wroiii;-. 
\\  WMs  Mot  >o  roliliiicd  lit  its 
'/iK'ir'iiiiiiiii:-.  It  iiitrodiu-cd  to 
the  world  no  new  (•cck'siasti- 
-  cid  institute,  l»ut  a  newness  of 
'-^  life ;  not  a  new  loniuda  of 
doctrines,  hut  a  fresh  and  full 
experience,  under  docti'incs 
acco})te<l  from  the  Itoirinidni:'.  the  simple  foundation  doctriu'  on 
which  ( 'hrisiianity  itself  was  rest inu'.  The  word  Methodism  was 
only  an  old  term  revived,  and  not  one  newly  coined.  Thei'e  had 
l)ccu,  aucs  earlier,  a  school  of  })hysieians  who  discarded  ohserva- 
tion  and  held  1o  ihe  ])ure  deductions  of  reason  and  loiric.  They 
took  the  name  of  Mcf/iodisfs,  conveyini:'  therehy  their  strict  ad- 
hci'cnce  to  loji'ical  itrocesses.  Their  success  in  ])ractice  is  not 
rcj)orled  :  their  school  was  not  lonii-livcd, 

A\'hen,  now,  in  ITi^H,  flohn  A\'eslev,  leadinu"  half  a  dozen  young 
Liiiillcmcn  at  ( )xfor(l  University,  hciian  to  read  tlu>  New  Testa- 
ment in  (ireek  and  to  try  to  conform  llieir  i(h'as  and  their  he- 
havioi-  most  strictly  to  Ihe  sanu\  a  younu"  gentleman  of  Christ 
Church  College  called  out  :  "Here  is  a  new  set  of  M(f1i(nl!sts 
sj)rung  nj) !"  The  new,  (|uaint  name  found  instant  currency,  and 
the  ''set'"  were  known  as  ^h'tliodisfs  all  over  the  Tnivorsity. 

Thus  came  llie  word  now  familiar  througli  all  the  world.     All 
to  whom  it  was  given  wore  zealous  members  of  the  Church  of 
•) 


5P 


20 


TIk:   t^ton/  of  ^h'tliiKUKHi, 


:  f 


il 


k 


4  i ! 
I 


I. 


Kii<zliiiKl,  Miul  the  i(U'!i  ot"  loundiiii:'  Miiy  new  Cliristian  Ixxly  w;is  far 
tVoiu  tlic'ir  minds.  Tlicy  i)r()|)()S('(l  to  live  loiiically  and  honestly 
after  the  rides  i:iven  in  their  \e\v  'resiinnenl — l)lanieh'ss  and  harm- 
less, (h)ini:'  ii'ood,  as  they  found  opportunity,  to  all  men. 

That  Methodism  may  he  called  a  renewal  of  life,  a  revival  of 
Christianity,  appears  iVom  the  fact  that  its  appearaiiei'  was  to 
human  eye  s[)()ntaiie()us,  and  that  it  at  once  satislied  a  fell  and 
U'eneral  want.  Its  plans  and  methods  were  siinjjle  ;  so  simj)le 
tliat,  as  we  shall  see,  they  have  nowhere  heen  ehanu-ed  or  mended. 

Methodism  has  been  spread  over  the  wo'.'ld.  It  has  silently  hut 
efleetively  molded  the  ways  oi'  many  hranehes  of  the  Clmreh, 
hut,  like  tlu^  boasted  tixedness  of  Ivome.  it  has  been  "Always  and 
everywhere  the  same."'  Its  founder  has  been  credited  with  mar- 
velous saaacity.  "  ^^'hat  a  leuislator  I  "  says  Southey.  ''What 
plans  I "'  "What  a  system!"  says  another  writer;  "jirown  so 
rapidly,  yet  established  so  lirndy  I  "  In  truth,  its  founder  ))uilt 
far  beyond  his  own  wis(U)m,  as  the  Ajjostles  had  l)uiit  far  beyond 
theirs,  lie  proposed  a  work  "entirely  religious."  He  called  it 
"the  work  of  (lod.*'  We  may  see  ))roof  that  his  task  was  so  in 
harmony  with  the  Divine  Will  that  liii'ht  and  strength  were  given — 
not  precisely  to  the  workiui;:  of  mii'aclos.  but  surely  to  the  clear, 
swift  and  eneriretie  achievement,  bv  word  and  deed,  of  a  task 
greatly  needing  to  l)e  done. 

The  times  in  which  Methodism  arose  were  in  sore  want  of  such 
revival.  The  historv  of  religion  in  Eniiland  since  Auirustine 
with  his  company  entered  Canterbury  twelve  hundi'ed  years  be- 
fore, shouting,  "Lord,  save  this  guilty  city  I"  had  been,  like  the 
historv  of  Knulish  ])olitics,  a  tale  of  stri*'e.  Espeeiallv  had  the 
last  two  centuries,  since  Henry  A'lll.  had  broken  from  Kome, 
been  a  i)criod  of  constant  struggle.  Protestant  and  Komariist, 
Prelatist  and  Independent,  had  fiercely  fought  for  existence,  or  for 
mastery.  The  fair  iields  of  England  had  been  stained  with  En- 
y:lisli  blood  bv  Enulish  hands  :  the  fresh  air  had  l)een  tainted  with 


■:  p 


7'//c   Or'ujin  of  M(th(>illx)ii. 


21 


Ixxly  w;is  t:ir 
and  lioiu'stly 
'ss  and  liariii- 

ICll. 

Ji  revival  of 
aiu'i'  was  to 
d  a   tt'lt   and 

;  so  sinii)Ic 
I  oi'  nuMidc'd. 
;  silently  but 
the  Cliuivl), 
'Always  and 
d  with  niar- 
y.      "  What 

"liTown  so 
)Uiuk'r  huilt 

tar  hoyond 

\v  called  it 

k   was  so  ill 

'ere  given — 

0  the  clear, 
,  of   a  ta.sk 

ant  of  such 
AuiTustine 
il  years  l»e- 
Mi,  like  the 
lly  had  the 
"oui  l^)ine, 
lionianist, 
juce,  or  tor 

1  with  Ku- 
ainted  with 


I 


llie  >niell   of  huuia-i  saeritiees  in  tires  of  Kiiolish   kindlino-.     All 
llii>  stir  of  the  pangs  and   passions  of  Hu   heart    was  ruinous  to 
]iicty.      Not    but   there    W(>re   instances  of   religious  character   in 
tli(.>e  troublous  times.       Personal   (h-votion   was  often  pure  and 
perfect,  and  such  divines   as    liaxter,  Harrow.  Owen  and    Howe 
were   stars  of  the  lirst  magnitude  in  the    upper  sky  of  the   faith, 
^'et    the  shocking  immorality  of  the  Court   of  Charles   JI.  coin- 
cided with  the  teaching  of  Ih.bbes  in  blank  iiiHdelity.  and  i)()pu- 
JMiiziiig  of  ich'as  of  '-Natural    Religion,"  nearly  with  that   of  the 
''noble  savage."     Fashionable  society  became  frivolous  and  vile. 
a>  the  dramas  of  Congreve  and  other  favorite  writers  show.     At 
the  end  of  the  seventeenth  century  Kngland   was  on  the  way  to  a 
irjection  of  Christianity  from  all   the  circles  of  fashion,  h.arning 
and  nobility.     As  Bp.  IJntler  says,  "Christianity  seems  at  length 
to  have  been  found  out   to  be  iictitious."     TIumi  followed  a  train 
of  deists  and   inlidels   of  little  magnitude,    but  each  the  product 
niid  the  producer  of  wide  unbelief,  until  towards  the  rear  of  the 
procession  came  the  greatest  of  sceptical  writers,  Ilimie  and  (Jib- 
I'oM.     So  had  the  classes  ruling  in  politics,  literature  and  societv 
become   immoral,  ungodly   and   unbelieving,  that  their  influence 
was  felt  in  France,  and  French  intidelity  was  at  first  a  product  of 
the  English  disbelief.      Wiien  Rousseau  and  Voltaire  arose,  there 
was  a  reaction,  and  scoils  and  sneers  from  France  were  caught 
and  re})eated  in  England. 

Against  this  evil  stream  the  Ix^st  of  English  literature  ottered 
a  feeble  barrier.  Addison,  Swift,  Gray  and  Thomson,  and  tiie 
like,  themselves  believers,  were  too  genial,  too  little  in  earn- 
est to  serv(>  as  .•eforniers.  They  spoke  pleasantly  for  the  truth  ; 
tiiey  told  of  the  vanity  of  the  world  ;  they  gave  fair  but  far-away 
views  of  the  excellence  of  piety,  but  they  had  no  temper  for  the 
stern  task  of  reform.  They  shraidc  from  social  exile  ;  they  felt  no 
call  to  bear  the  apostolic  cross ;  they  did  not  covet  the  risk  of 
martyrdom.      Revival  could  not  come  fnmi  (hem. 


22 


7'A'?  Stoi'i/  of  Mcllioillsin. 


Nor  was  help  conn'iiir  tVom  tlu'  Iiulo}H'n(lent  Clmrchos.  Litera- 
ture must  find  its  market  rather  than  create  it,  and  its  oftice  is  to 
entertain  rather  tlian  to  reform.  It  is  therefore;  not  to  l)e  ex- 
peetod  that  men  of  letters  Avill  address  themselves  to  the  task — 
the  severest  cncr  set  to  man — that  of  saving'  his  brother.  AVork- 
er>:  therein  nmst  he  of  sterner  stuff  and  dee])er  eonvietions. 

One  miuht  have  thouii'ht  that  the  Churehcs  of  the  Pili^-rims  and 
of  Cromwell  Avould  furnish  flu;  Elijahs  and  John  the  Baptists  of 
the  hour.  These  were  in  a  strani:e  decay,  woi'u  Avitli  controversy 
and  smitten  with  the  hroad  ai?d])aneful  l)light  of  half-heart(>dness. 
Xor  had  these  or  tlie  Baptists  or  tlu;  Quakei's  any  valuable  influ- 
ence with  the  ruliuii"  classes,  flu;  leaders  of  society. 

A[uch  darker,  ])ecause  uni'elieved  by  taste  and  refinement,  was 
the  state  of  tlu;  lower  classes.  In  the  michlh;  of  the  last  century, 
the  novel,  then  a  new  appearance  in  our  literature,  be«ran  its 
"Stories  of  Life."  AVe  may  i'ssumc!  that  Fieldini:,  for  example, 
presents  low  life  as  it  actually  was.  Ilis  "Tom  Jones"  gives  a 
brutality  and  drunkenness,  an  impurity,  a  general  l)arbarism  in 
country  life,  as  his  own  judicial  experience  showed  it,  and  in  city 
life,  that  is  api)allinir.  Darkness  was  on  the  land,  and  gross 
darkni'ss  on  the  peoj)le  of  the  first  and  greatest  of  J*rotestant  na- 
tions. From  the  death  of  ('romwell.  in  Ki.Vs,  who,  as  his  mighty 
spirit  ))asse<l  away  in  that  Septeml)er  storm,  ]>reathed  faintly  : 
"(rod  will  be  with  His  jx'oplc  !  "  to  the  beginning  of  Methodism 
as  a  forct;  in  17.')-'^ — eighty  yeai's — ♦he  night  grew  a})ace.  Then 
came  a  dawn. 

The  utterances  of  thoughtful  nuMi  in  this  ))eriod  are  sad  and 
desponding.  They  are  like  those  of  the  best  Romans  when  tlu; 
Km})ire  began  to  decline  and  fall.  Says  Bp,  Ijurnet :  "I  see 
ruin  hanging  over  the  Church.  I  must  give  vent  to  my  sad 
thoughts,  to  the  sul»ject  of  my  many  secret  mournings."  And 
this  he  j)r()ceeds  at  full  length  to  do.  Dr.  Watts,  the  sweet, 
mournful  poet,  speaks  of  the  general  decay  of  vital  religion,  and 


The    Oi'iriii,    (,f  Method Isiii. 


23 


hcs.  Litora- 
ts  office  is  to 
ot  to  l»e  ox- 
()  tlio  task — 
her.  AVork- 
tions. 

Pilgrims  and 
ti  Baptists  of 
controversy 
•hoartcdnoss. 
lua])lo  influ- 

nement,  Avas 
last  century, 
S  Ijeiraa  its 
or  example, 
es"  gives  ii 
arharism  in 

and  in  city 
.  and  gross 
:)testant  na- 

liis  nn'glity 
ed  faintly  : 
.Methodism 
I'c.       Tiien 

ire  sad  and 
^  when  the 
t  :  "  J  s<Hi 
to  my  sad 
gs."  And 
the  sweet, 
ligion,  and 


call>  lor  the  using  of  all  cHorts  tor  the  recovery  of  dying  religion 
in  the  world. 

AVe  read  from  another:     "Almost  all  vital  religion   is   lost  out 
of    (he    world."     Another    tells   us:     "All  that   is    restriclivelv 
Christian  is  banished  and  despised."     Oue  year  l)ef()re  the  rise  of 
Methodism,  Seeker,  Archl.ishop  of  Canterlmry,  wrote  :     "('hri>- 
tianity  is  ridiculed  with  very  little  reserve,  and  the  teachers  of  it 
Avilh  none  at  all."'     Of  this  Southey  says:     "The  clergv  had  lost 
all  aulhoi-ity  :  they  had  also  lost  respect,"  and  liurnet  had  said  that 
the  cleigy  of  England  were  under  more  contempt  than  those  of 
any  Church  in  Europe.     Of  the  Independent  Churches  a  writer 
of  their  own  says  that  their  piety  was  to  })e  found  "nowhere  but 
in  their  l)ooks."     Tithes  were  paid:  the  dignities,  the  architect- 
ure of  the  Church  were  maintained  :  l)ut  there  were  no  missions, 
no  ditfusion  of  Scripture,  no  Sunday-schools,  no  social  meetinos. 
As   Archl)ishop   Leighton  said:     "The  Church  had  come  to  be 
a  'fair  carcass.""     "W(>  start,  for  life  is  wanting  there  !"' 

Xever  in  all  the  history  of  the  Church  was  a  time  when  the  oft- 
quoted  words  of  St.  Augustine  l)ecame  more  impressive:  "Man's 
.■xtremity  is  (Jod's  opportunity."  The  chill  an<l  the  gloom  were 
settling  on  England  ;  \'oltaire  an<l  his  like  were  poisoning  France  : 
and  Frecrick  of  Prussia,  with  the  Nationalists,  was  (U'solating  the 
Faith  in  the  very  home  of  Luther.  Put  the  Providence  that 
reared  and  trained  Moses  was  i)rei)aring  a  man— many  men  and 
women— to  rescue  His  Church  and  bring  upon  the  worhl  the  new 
Evangelism,  fair  and  flush  as  the  morninu-. 

Epworth.  a  rural  village  on  the  j(.vels  of  Lincolnshire,  the 
home  of  some  two  tlumsand  people,  had  little  charm  of  site  oi- 
surroundings.  Li  the  struggles  of  the  English  Revolution  of 
l(!.S.s,  wliieh  lixed  anew  the  Protestant  Faith  in  England,  Mr. 
Samuel  )VesIey,  a  young  clergyman,  who  had  been  offered  pre- 
ferment if  h,.  u-ould  attach  himself  to  the  .■ause  of  dames  and  the 
Catholics,  was   the    lirsl  to  write  in   favor  of  William   and  Ahirv. 


:[ 


i 


J\  'llm   Slorj  of  MHlioillsiii. 

I  lis  hook  lie  (lodicjitod  to  tlic  (^iiccii,  and  sli(>  i-cwiirdod  liiiii  with 
the  liviiiii'  of  Kpworth.  Of  this  ohsfurc  villaiic  he  hcciiinc  rector 
ill  1(!I>7,  Mild  so  rcinaiiu'd  for  inorc^  than  o!»  years.  His  irraiid- 
father,  l)arthoh)iiie\v  Wesley,  a  ch'riryinan  who  had.  as  an  ama- 
teur, studied  niedicine,  hecanie  a  Puritan.  At  the  Kestoration  he 
was  exih'd  from  his  peoph',  the  Five-mih'  Act  forhiddiiiii-  him  to 
come  within  tive  mih's  of  those  whom  he  had  served.  He  then 
lived  by  Ids  medieal  profession,  takinu"  without  murmur  his  atHic- 
tions. 


His  son  flolm,  fatlior 
of  th(^  rector  of  Kp- 
worth,  (h'ank  a  cu])  of 
lik(>  attiiction.  From 
liis  studies  at  Oxford 
ho  went  (hirin<i'  Croni- 
w ell's  protectorate 
aJ)r()ad. 

On  his  return  ho  was 
called  hefoi'e  the  liisho]) 
of  Ih'istol  to  answer  for 
})roacliini:-  without  ordi- 
nation. He  had  been 
preachini!:  to  seamen 
and,  as  occasion  had 
otlered,  i  n  t  he  rura  1  ~^J 
districts.  The  Uishop 
warned  him  that  hemust 
preach  no  more  until  or- 
(hiined   after  the   order  wkstlkv  and  xm:  ihmioi. 

of  the  ('Imrcli.  ^^'estlev  arirued  his  own  conscious  call  to  serve 
both  as  a  lay-preacher  and  as  an  itinerant,  as  he  had  l)een  doiiiu'. 
He  held  that  his  inward  convictions  were  continued  by  liracious 
results  attendiii<j;'  his  labors.     The  l>ishoi)"s  appeal  was  lost 


Tliti    (Ji'lij'in    itf  Mi'flimHsnl 


•l,y 


1   liiiii  with 

cauic  rector 

His  irraiid- 

iis  Mil  iiiua- 

storation  lio 

:liiii:'  liini  to 

Ifc  thou 

iir  his  atHie- 


iff- 


to  serve 
'•en  doiiiii'. 
V  gracious 
lost 


"  Voii  will  stand  to  your  priiieiples,  you  >ay  ?  " 

"  1  intend  it.  through  the  uraee  ot"  (iod." 

The  liishop  uiuh'rstood  his  mettle. 

■■  I  will  not  meddle  with  you."  said  he. 

"  Farewell  to  you.  sir."  replied  Mr.  \\"esiley. 

"  Farewell,  good  Mr.  \\'estley,"  mildly  responded  the  ))relate. 

Mr.  \\'estley  was  soon 
ill  prison  for  his  lay- 
preaehing.  He  would 
not  take  the  oath  to  eon- 
t'ormto the  l*rayer-P>ook 
and  to  the  Cliureh, 
thouiih  he  had  the  ex- 
aiiii)h^  ot"  many  who, 
taUinu"  it,  reserved  in 
mind  the   riL^ht  to  con- 


strue it.     He  would  not 
so  juugle  with  his  con- 


science. 


H 


e  was  (h'iven 


from  } 


)lace  to  place 


ho 


was  lined  :   he  was  toi 


ir 


time 


imprisoned,  onco 


for  lialf  a  \'ear 


H 


eaiK 


his  fainilv  lived   1>\-  the 


en 


ntriltutions   of  churches    which  the   law   forhade   him   t 


o   serve 


His  lit'e  of  persecution,  toil,  and  sulferiiii:',  was  brief.  In  ItKlS, 
;it  the  age  of  forty-two,  he  had  tilled  up  his  measure  of  the  sutfcr- 
iiigs  ot"  his  Lord  and  entered  into  rest,  before  the  death  of  his 
i:ray-haired.  sorrowing  father,  liartholoniew.  The  \  icar.  of  Pres- 
ton, where  he  died,  forhadi'  his  lairial  in  the  church,  hut  his  grave 
is  in  the  church-yard.  \o  truer  ser\  ant  of  ( 'hrist  e\'er  went  fi 
a  tight  of  atllictions  into  the  heavenly  ])eae(>. 


GUI 


All  tiiis  troul)le  caiiie  of  hi<  opposition  to  the  liook  of  ( 'ominon 


J 


26 


77/t'    >^fnr>/    of'  Mi'IIkhI isn). 


'  Ir 


Prayer.  Jt  is  straiiuc  tliat  a  hook  in  wliidi  so  many  tiiul  liclp  and 
1)lossiiit:'  sliould  he  rcjccti'd  l»y  a  man  so  dc  v(»ut.  with  pcrsistcMicc 
even  unlo  death,  hul  one  ran  hardly  walk  ihe  iii'oiind  where  his 
ashes  lir  unmarked,  without  a  tender  thouiziit  lor  a  iiood  and  hrave 
man  who  went  down  in  >ull"erini2'  tor  eonscicnee'-  >ake.  His 
<2i'aiidsons    wei'e  ol"  like   unlliiiehinji'  temjx'r. 

Ot"  his  two  sons,  Ahil- 
tliew  and  Sanund.  the 
former  ))eeame  a  sue- 
cesst'ul  ])hysic'ian.  Tlie 
hitter  intended  to  he- 
come  a  1  )issentini:  I'ler- 
i>"vman,  l)ut.  rather  than 
a]){)rove  of  the  l)ehead- 
inu"  of  Cdiarles  I.,  he 
returned  to  the  Kstah- 
lished  ("hureh.  .\t  six- 
teen, we  tind  him  enter- 
illii'  Exeter  Colleu'e,  Ox- 
ford University,  witli 
two  |)oun(ls,  tive  shil- 
linu's  in  his  jxx-ket.  \\\ 
helping'  the  haekward,  L 
instruetinu"  as  tutor,  and 
hy  some  writing',  he  sui)i)()rted  himself,  and  tinally  left  eolleii'e  with 
ten  1)ouikIs,  fifteen  shillinu's.  He  was  also,  duriui:'  hi>  studies,  a 
Christian  worker.  He  \isited  the  jn-iscMiers  in  the  Castle,  to 
Aviiom  pity  and  comfort  rarely  came.  He  looked  tor  the  neglected 
pool':  in  fact,  he  set  there  an  example  that  his  sons  afterwards  did 
Avell  to  follow. 

Jicavinii'  the  Fniveivsity.  he  met,  in  Lon(h)n,  !Miss  Susanna  An- 
nesk\v.  and  she  hecame  his  wile.  Then,  for  awhile,  he  was  curate 
in  Lon(h)n  and  chaplain  in  the  licet.      He  wa>  too  independent  to 


SAMlll,  WKSI.KV. 


^11 


Till'    Or  ill  III    I  if  Milliinl  !sni . 


11(1  liclj)  and 
pcrsistciici' 
I  wlicrc  his 
(1  :iii(l  liravc 
>:iki'.       Ills 


'.-y^^M 


■■>  -"ir^Sf?- 


■^X^: 


mmm 


mm^^ 


^'^■fi 


■olloac  with 

studies,  ii 

Casth',   to 

ic  ncjilectcd 

■rwards  ilid 

isaniia  Aii- 
was  curate 

|)l'll(U'Ut    to 


ri'^c  l»\'  the  fa^ ors  ot"  tlic  iircat.  lie  hail  l»iit  tit'tv  pounds  a  year 
lor  >i\  years — not  "))assiiii:-  i-ieh  ""  lor  a  laiiiily  ol'  already  six  eliil- 
dreii.      Then   he  came  to  l']|)\vort ji. 

Here,  with  two  hundred  ]»ouii(l>  a  year,  and  an  active  pen.  he 
>iip|)orted  and  educated  nineteen  children. 

lie  was  a  man  ot"  real  learnini:'  and  iniineiise  energy  ol"  mind. 
A  Latin  dissertation  on  Jolt  \\a>  his  i:reatest  work.  He  dedi- 
cated three  \<)luiiies  to  three  successive  (Queens  o!"  Knulaiid. 
i'oetry  was  a  jiassioii  with  him.  and  he  made  u|)  in  tjuantity  what 
lie  lacked  in  (|ua]ity.  Pope  seems  to  honor  him  with  a  place  in  the 
hmiciad.  hut,  on  ))ersoiial  ac(|uaintance.  the  critic  says  to  Swift  : 
"1  tell  you,  he  is  a  learned  man,  and  I  eiii^aii'c  you  will  approve 
his  prose  more  than  you  t'ormerly  did  his  poeti-y." 

He  was  a  true  jiastor.  He  kejit  personal  knowledu-e  of  his 
])eople  and  recorded  all  his  visits.  The  had  were  otrended  at  his  life 
and  his  ])reachinu'.  and  annoyed  him  in  many  a  way,  hut  his  hrave, 
hroad  heart  ncAcr  failed  or  was  discouraged.  Once  he  was  ar- 
rested for  a  small  debt  and  kept  for  three  months  in  prison.  He 
at  once  hecaiiie  a  chaplain  to  his  fellow-prisoners,  readinii'  prayers 
and  |)reachin<x  to  them.  To  the  .Vrchliishoj)  of  ^'ork  he  wrote  : 
"  1  doiTt  despair  of  doinji"  i>()od  here,  and,  it  may  he.  more  in  this 
new  ])ai'ish  than  in  the  old  one."  His  own  chei'rfuhiess  wa>  up- 
held by  his  wife's  fortitude,  otherwise,  as  he  says,  "  It  is  not 
every  one  that  could  hear  these  things. "'  She  sent  him  her  rinus 
to  huy  for  himself  comfoi'ts,  hut  he  returned  them.  For  all  these 
trouhlos  he  still  wouhl  not  leave  Kiiworth.  "'Tis  like  a  coward 
to  desert  my  post  because  the  enemy  lires  thick  upon  me.  They 
lia\'e  only  wounded  me  yet,  and   I  believe  cannot    kill  me."" 

His  soul  went  t"ar  beyond  the  iirecincts  of  Kpworth.  He  drew 
a  missionary  plan  for  evanu'eliziiiii"  the  foreign  l>iMtish  i»ossessions, 
iiicludiiiii' even  China  and  India.  Adam  Clarke  says  that  it  was 
pi'acticahle,  and  AVi'slev  olfered  to  undertake  it  in  his  own  perxm 
if  the  irovernmeiit  would  care  for  his  famils    and  endor-e  the  »'n- 


28 


II 


i! 


i  I 


t 


If- 


1  • 


Tito,    fStorif   (if  Mi'llnid !s)ii. 


Ici'prisc.  Tho  timo  had  not  yd  coinc.  I'lic  luissioiiai'y  work  of 
the  world  was  not  to  Ix'iiin  with  thi^  favor  ot"  the;  jircat,  l>ut  with 
the  sacriticcs  ot"  the  hunihh'.  Mcainvhih',  as  Wcsh'v  pressed  his 
scheme  with  the  Arehhishop  of  York,  and  tlie  Prime  Minister 
Waljxth',  there  was  one  urowiiiii'  n})  in  Hpworth  i)ars()naire,  say- 
in_ir  liis  prayers  at  his  motlier's  knee,  who  was  to  deelare  :  "The 
woi'ld  is  my  parish  I "'  and  make  irood  his  declaration. 

This  "  Father  of  tlie  Wesleys  *'  had  a  soul  of  healtiiy  humor. 
His  ])arish  clerk  was  vain  and  stupid,  fond  of  wearinu'  the  rec- 
tor's cast-otf  clotlies,  and  ev(Mi  his  wijjfs,  tliouirii  thesci  were  too 
larjjo  for  him.  One  of  these  wijrs  was  so  larirc!  as  to  make  the 
clerk's  fiifure  ridiculous,  and  Mr.  Wesley  took  the  case  in  hand. 
Arranjiiui^  that  ho  himself  slioidd  road  the  tirst  lino  of  a  ])salm  of 
his  own  choosinu:,  and  the  clerk  the  second.  lie  read,  as  suitable 
for  his  "■  particular  subject  "  : 

"  Like  to  ail  owl  in  ivy  bush."' 

The  clerk  "lined"  from  within  the  wiii".  in  which  his  head  was 
"remote  and  half  seen," 

•'  That  rueful  lliinjj:  am  I." 

The  c()n<>'r(>i>ation  burst  into  lauahter.  and  the  effect  on  tho 
clerk  was  ext-elleiit.  So  was  Samuel  ^^'esley's  intense  and  toilful 
spii'it  lubricated  by  a  steady  How  of  humor  and  a  lively  sensci  of 
the  ridii'idous,  Ilis  conversation  was  rich  in  wit  and  Avisdom,  in 
vivacity  and  illustration. 

Yet  \\v  could  do  a  foolish  thinu'.  One  evenina",  as  he  read 
prayers  for  tlu^  Kinu',  William  III.,  ]\Irs.  Wesley  did  not  say 
Anu'ii.  II(^  asked  the  reason.  She  did  not  Ixdieve  he  had  a 
riiiht  to  b(!  Kiui:".  "  ^^'e  must  part,"  said  Mr.  ^^'esley  :  "  if  we 
have  two  kiuii's.  we  must  have  two  Ix'ds."  She  was  inllexible. 
lie  left  the  house  and  did  not  return  until  after  a  year,  when 
AVilliam's  death  and  the  accession  of  Anne  nave  them  a  sovereian 
whom    both   acknowledged.      Married   life    was   then  resumed   as 


!>       I 


■"» 


Tin-    Orii/i'ii    nf  MithniUshi. 


21 1 


iry  work  of 
1,  Imt  with 
])ross('(l  his 
ic  .Minister 
ouiiiTo,  say- 
re  :         I  lie 

hy  humor. 
i_<r  tho  rcc- 
;  M'or(^  too 
iiiiiko  tho 
!('  ill  hand, 
a  psalm  of 
as  suitalilo 


head  was 


■ct  on  tho 
iind  toilful 
V  sense  of 
wisdom,  in 

•  he  read 
1  not  say 
lie  had  a 
' :  "if  wo 
intlexihle. 
I'ar.  when 
sovereiirn 
■^unied  as 


•  luietly.  devoutly  an<l  faithftdly  as  if  nothiiiir  ha<l  happen.-d.  The 
MM.v.lofe,  told  l.y  ,I„lm  \\\.s\vy  hims,.If,  shows  this  historie  family 
to  have  l,een  of  "like  i.assious  "  with  the  ivst  of  us,  and  .-ven 
th.Mr  sterling  .|ualities  made  their  al.sur.lities  the  more  olarino-. 
The  l.irth  of  dolni  Wesley  himself  (June  17,  17();i)  Hrnily  re- 
ceiiieiited  the  household. 

It  was  April  i>.-i,  17;5.-i,  that  this  brave  and  nifted  man  .Mitered 
into  rest.  II,.,  "a  penitent  without  witness  of  panh.n  "  f„r  sev- 
enty years,  hut  the  Smi  looked  in  upon  his  soul  from  the  rim  of 
the  western  horizon,  and  at  evenin-  time  it  was  lio-ht.  "Ar."  you 
not  near  heaven  ?  "  was  tlu-  last  question.  "  Ves,  I  am  !  "  was  "the 
ivply  in  all  the  tones  of  Joy  his  failin-  orirans  eouhl  eommand. 
In  old  times  his  aneestors  had  fouo-ht  in  the  Crusades.  He  had 
the  erusadino;  heart  and  it  passed  on  to  his  sons. 

"The  mother  of  tho  Lesleys  was  the  mother  of  Metho<lism." 
Susanna  Annesley  was  the  dauohter  of  Samuel  Annesh-y,  „f  the 
•H'hlc   house   of  the    Karl    of  Anoles.v,.      M.v   father   hail   distin- 
-uishe,l   himself  at   Oxfonl,  an<l   had    served    in    tlu^   diureh  as 
ehaplain  at  sea,  as  rural  jKistor,  aii.l  at  two  of  th.>  largest  eonirre- 
.L^ationsin  London,  one  hein-  "the   l.road  St.  (iiles."      When   the 
crisis  already  notieed  eanie,  he,  liko  John  Westlev  (the  spellin- 
of  his   name,  as   he  himself  spelt  it,   distinguishes  him  trom  lihi 
,-n.ndson),  refuse.l  to  "eonform,-  and  he  drank  of  the  eup  of  his 
iHnnhl.M-  brother.      For  ov.m-  thirty   n.n-s  he   had  so,v  trials,  but 
lu'  was  never  battled  or  east  <lown.      AVhv  should  he  b,.  ?     1 1,,  was 
of  noble  tbrm  and  bearmj,,  sueh  as  ^ives  weleonie  and  assurance 
even  to   a   stranger:   his   Ia,-e    wealth  t\irnislied   him    tor  aniph> 
ehanty:   his  life-lono-   lu-ahli   was  e,,ual    to    the   exeeution   of   his 
lioart  s  desn-es.     The  author  of  Robins,,,,  C^msoe  has  l,>ft  an  eleoy 
tclin,.,  the  pertW-tion  of  his  eharaeter.       liaxter.  (  alamv  and  tlu- 
other  noneonformists  aeeou„te<l  him  a  "  Srond  Paul,"  "an  Israel- 
ite indeed."    CV„mwell  set  hi,,,  hid.  aniono-  his  "  „„.„  of  ,vli..io„  " 
and   the   Countess   of  An^esea.    his   kinswoman,    dvin^r.    wished 


30 


TIk'    f>f<>r'/   of  ^lillniil ism 


l>uri:il    ill   his   ui'mnc.      Mill    iiiorc  Idudiiiii:'   i->   tln'   \o\vv  ot  oiu'   of 
Ills  Miirci-iii-'  Itrcllircii  ;il    lii>   fmifrnl  :   "O   how   iiiMiiy  i)l:ic('s  h:ul 


p. 


s:it  ill  (hirkiu'ss,  how  many  ministers  had  been  starved,  if  Dr.  An- 
iiesley  had  died  lliirly  years  since  ! ''  "What  a  eoiitrasl  in  liviiii: 
nieii  did   Mn;Liland  >how  I      Such  a   man   was  eontemijorary  with 


Till'   ()r!<iiii  i>f  Ml iliiiilisiii. 


;ii 


lee  (»l    (Hie    df 
y  ])l!ic('s  had 


iirri 


^1 


,  if  Dr.  Aii- 
sl  ill  liviiiir 
)()r:irv  with 


( 'liarlt'>"  (•••itit ,  with  ('oiiltcvc"-.  coiiicdy,  with  SwilVs  uiisaiithropy 
Miitl  Uoliiiii'ln'oU*'"-  Mth('i>iii  I 

Ilis  (laiii^litcrs  inherited  hi<  personal  heaiily  and  the  tVeech^iii 
Mild  energy  <'•  li'"'  mind.  Iletnre  >he  was  ihilteeii,  Siisaiilia  had 
lor  jieisell"  >tu<lie(l  the  ;:reat  eolitroxcrsy  hetweeii  tlie  (  lllireh  and 
llie  l)i->enters,  and  eahnly  and  openly  tooU  the  >i(h'  ol'  the 
(lllireh.  Her  iiohle  lather  saw  tlie  opinions,  tor  whieli  he  had 
toiled  and  .^iillered,  rejected  in  his  own  house.  He  stilled  all  re- 
gret, and  all  heneath  his  root"  were  ol"  one  loviiii:"  heart,  and  his 
devout  hilt  (h'cided  daughter  was  to  his  aU'eetions  fully  as  dear 
as  ever.  At  twenty,  when  married,  she  was  well  educated, 
^^'illlout  any  striking"  display  of  i^'cniiis,  eiiouii'h  is  left  of  her  let- 
ter- and  her  life  to  show  that  >lie  was  the  peer  of  Lady  .Montagu, 
tlie  tirst  Knu'li^h  woman  of  the  ))eriod.  if  lu*  in  lirilliancy,  still 
ill  hrea(hh,  clearness  and  powei". 

More  than  one  of  her  l>ioi2ra|)liors  speaks  of  her  i)crs()nnl 
lieaiity.  Sir  Peter  Lely,  the  famous  court-painter  of  ('liarh's, 
lia>  LMven  a  j)ortrait  of  her  sistoi-,  a  wonitm  wliosi^  charms  could 
have  no  hiirher  conijdinient  than  to  he  a  suliject  for  his  liand,  hut 
one,  who  knew  liotli  sisters,  tells  us  Susanna  was  far  the  more 
heautiful.  Her  portrait,  taken  at  ahout  twenty-tive — ahout  tivo 
years  after  her  niaiTia;ii"e — jxivos  a  face  that  one  cannot  choose  hut 
achniro.  It  lias  an  air  of  liiah  hreedina",  hut  there  is  a  touchinu' 
simplicity,  a  liveliness  and  a  sweetness  beaminu"  over  all.  One 
writer,  lookinu'  upon  this  picture  and  reiuemherinji;  what  virtues 
adorned  the  fair  ori<2'inal,  and  how,  after  the  toils  and  struuirles 
of  three-score  years  and  ten,  her  soul  and  her  face  wei'e  still  full 
of  liii'ht  and  sweetness,  is  not  ashamed  to  vent  his  feelinirs  in  tears. 
"Such  a  woman,  take  lier  for  all  in  all,  F  have  not  heard  of,  T 
have  not  read  of,  nor  with  her  (>(|ual  have  I  been  acquainted." 
He  almost  thinks  that  Solomon  saw  her  from  afai-  and  took  from 
her  the  portrait  of  the  perfect  woman  !  Studyiuii"  her  character 
and  thinkiiiiji:  of  the  noble  women  later  risen,  one  finds  himself. 


MUf<.    MSA.NNA     \V1>LI.V,    "TIIL    .MDTIlI.l!    HI     MEniODISJl." 


I 


The    Ui'i'jin   iif  J/(  f/(Offi.-tin, 


iil'trr  II   criitmy   aiid   !i    liall",   >till   >iiyiiig,  '"IIioii   cxiclK'^l    llu-iii 


'■%■} 


;-+?  V . 


Al  ;iIm)1iI  liic  wiir  of  thirty  .-lie  r('>i»l\c(l  to  ^pciid  jin  lioiii'  ciicli 
iiKpriiiiii:'  !Hi<l  cxciiiiii:'   in   in'.'iycr   :iiitl   >tii(ly,   mikI  tlii>    liiiltit   >lii' 
kciil  uiiln'okfii  l>y  the  (Ifiiiaiids  of  lici'  liouscliold. 
Of  Iicr  iiiiirtci'U  fliildrcii,  ti'ii   li\'»'d  to   he   cducMtcd,   aiul  this 

duty  fell  (til  her,  .lor  wjis 
she  cNcr  charged  with 
iiciilcct  of  (h)in('stic  id- 
fairs.  Vet  ii)  tliox-  pre- 
cious hours  she  itlauiied 
and  partially  executed 
several  important  works, 
l)esides  \\ritin«jr  copious 
vahial)le  Ihouiihts  and 
criticisms  on  manifold 
toi)ics. 

The  family  now  form- 
'^  ed  at  Kpworth  came  ot 
sucii  ancestry — "a  breed 
of  nohle  l>h)ods'" — and, 
of  all  the  families  of  Kn- 
ffland,  liiirli  or  low,  iu 
the  eiiihteenth  century,  none  has  so  imi)resscd  the  world.  It  is 
well  worth  while  to  study  closely  its  home  life  and  trainiuii". 

The  Kpworth  i)ars(>nai2'e  was  now  a  hundred  years  old,  built  in 
those  days  when  Shane  and  lluiih  O'Neill  went  down  in  Ireland, 
and  the  seed  was  sown  of  that  bad  harvest  of  tyranny  and  mas- 
sacre of  which  the  lileaninus  are  not  yet  all  pithered. 

Under  its  thatched  roof  were  a  larue  hall,  a  ])arlor,  a  "l)utterv," 
three  lariic  chambers,  some  smaller  rooms,  and  a  study.  This 
last  was  the  rector's  own.  Here  he  wrote  his  sermons  and  wasted 
(  y)   his  hours  in  rhymes,  "  that   found  him  \h)ov  at  first  and  kept 


El'WUUTH    I'AHSONAGE. 


i        iU 


M 


Till     Sti,,-!/    nf  Ml  fhoiUftn). 


iiini  so."'  Over  all  tlic  rt'st  of  the  Iidusc  Iiis  wit'i'  was  ruler.  Slio 
nianaii'cd  outside  atlairs  also,  tlic  incoiucs  and  ('XjxMidilures.  Ilcr 
sou  ,loiu»  louu'  alh'i'wards  speaks  ol'  her  as  writiuii',  eouversiu":'. 
doini:'  all  Wusiuess,  with  thirteen  ehildi'eu  around  her.  Ilef  tiaiu- 
iuii"  (»t"  these  ejiildr(>ii  was  peculiar.  It  was  systt'inatie,  loui<"il. 
"  tuetliodieal,"  as  she  iu  later  days  rehearsed  it  to  liei"  sou.  The 
tirst  three  months  were  to  he  spent  l)y  the  infant  mostly  iu  sleep; 
it  was  then  laid  in  the  cradle  awaUe.  i'ocUcmI  to  sleep  and  rocUed 
until  its  wakiuii".  This  was  to  tix  the  time  ol"  sle(>pini:',  which, 
heinu"  at  first  three  hours  in  the  morniui;'  and  three  in  the  at'ter- 
noon,  was  gradually  I'cduced  until  sleep  in  the  day-time  was  no 
lonu'iM' ni'e(h>d.  At  one  year  it  was  tauuht  to  "  cry  softly,""  and 
"the  odious  noise  of  cryinu'  children'"  was  rarely  heard  in  the 
<|uiet  house.  None  ate  or  drank  between  meals  unless  in  sick- 
p.ess,  whii'h  was  rare.  .Vt  I'iuht  in  the  eveuinu"  they  went  to  their 
rooms  and  of  lliemselves  tell  asleep  unattended.  Mrs.  \\'esley 
hehl  that  "  hoth  pi'ccept  and  exami)le  will  he  ineU'ectual "'  unless 
the  will  ot'  the  child  he  suhdiu'd.  "  Tlicn  a  child  is  o-overned  hy 
the  reason  and  i)iety  of  its  j)arents  until  its  own  have  taken  root 
and  matured."  The  children  were  taui:ht,  at  prayer  an<l  at  tahle- 
iirace.  the  li'estures  of  reliiiiou  hel'ore  they  could  kneel  or  speak. 

No  study  was  allowed  until  the  child  was  live  years  old.  l)ut 
then  it  hei^an  in  earnest.  No  one  was  allowed  to  enter  the  I'oom 
where  the  youni:'  novice  was  heini:'  initiated  into  the  mystery  of 
the  alphaltet.  Six  hours  were  allotted  for  learniui:'  it.  and  be- 
tween idne  and  twelve  of  the  moruinii,  and  two  and  live  of  tlu^ 
afternoon,  of  the  first  day  :  and  of' all  the  family  only  two  re(|ini'ed 
a  day  and  a  half.  Tlu>  next  task — as  with  Hebrew  students — was 
to  spell  and  read  a  chapter  in  (ieuesis,  and  to  do  it  pcr/ccfJi/. 
Sui'h  entrance  upon  education  was  straight,  I'lean  and  viirtu'ous. 

She  early  beoan  their  religious  ti'ainini:'.  ^^'hen  eiu'ht  of  her 
I'hildreu  were  now  of  reasonable  years,  she  savs:  "I  discourse 
e\ervnii:ht  with  each  child  bv  itself  on  somethiiiii'  that   I'elates  to 


Thtj    Orhjln    of  Mvl/nnl ism. 


.),) 


ruler.      Slio 
ilurcs.     Her 
convcrsiu";-. 
Her  fniiii- 
:iti\',  logical, 
r  soil,     Tlic 
llv  ill  slcc))  ; 
aiul    rocUcd 
)iii«2".  wliicli, 
in  tli(>   aftcr- 
inu'   was  no 
■iot'tly."   and 
K'ard  in   tlic 
less  ill   sick- 
rent  to  their 
Irs.  WesU.y 
ual  "  unless 
overned    hy 
'  taken   root 
nd  at  tahle- 
I  or  speak, 
irs  old,  hut 
r  the  room 
niystiM-y  of 
it.  and   I)e- 
li\-e  of  the 
ivo  i'e(|uired 
(h'lits — was 
t    prrftcfji/. 
.'ipirous. 
iilht   ot"  her 
I   discourse 
t   relates  to 


it>  principal  coneerns.  On  ^[ollday  I  talk  with  Molly  ;  on  Tues- 
day with  Hetty  ;  Wednesday  with  Nancy  :  'rinn'sdn,/  n'lt/i  Jarki/  ; 
Friday  with  Fatty;  Saturday  with  Charles;  and  with  Kiiiilv  and 
>uky  on  Sunday."  No  wonder  Tim rsthn/  heeani(>  ".Iack\"s"' 
Siniilay  in  lh«'  middle  of"  the  week  I 

Tlu're  was  no  afternoon   >ervi<'e  at    Mpworth  church,  and  iiev(>r 
;iii  cvciiiiii:-  service,      .Mrs.  \\'e>ley  thouiiiit  she  could  use   the  time 
well,  her  liu>l)and  lu'iui:- then  on  luisiuess  in  London  and  his  place 
lillcd  liy  a  curate,  in  u'ivinn-  to  her  own  family  some  relioious  dis- 
(duisc  and  counsel.      Others  heard  of  it   and  hei-retl  to  come  in. 
and   >oon   loi'ty  were   present,      'I'he  thinu"  iircw.      Soon   she   was 
rcadiiiU'  "  the   best     and    most     awakeniii;,r-  sermons     wc    had"    to 
■jatlicriniis  ot'  over  two  hundred.      Her  hushand  t'cared  this  ii()v- 
(Ily   as  an  invasion   of  churcl;   order,      lie    pro|)o>ed   that    "  >ome 
other  person  " — i.e..   not   a    woman,  otliciate.      She  writes  to  him 
;il  London:      "And   where    is  the   harm  of  this?       1  do   not    think 
one  man  ainonu- them   coidd    read    without    spcHinn-  a    oo,,,!   .,;,,. i 
dl'  it  :  and    how    would   that    edify    the   rest?"       ller   hovs    could 
lead,    luit   their  tiny    voices  coidd    not    reach  so    manv    hearers, 
W,    le  her  hushand  hesitated,   the  uatheriiiH-s  nrew    to    l)e    lai'iicr 
llian  the  conirreijat  ions  at  the  church.      His   cairate    was  verv    nat- 
uially  urieved.  and.  with   some  prominem     iiarishioiu'rs,  reported 
lhe>e  to  .Mr.  \\'esley.  uivini:-  them  tlu'  name,  so  odious  to  churcli- 
iiicn.   "conventicles."       She    now    made   iiood  her   defence:       "It 
was  savini:-  the  common  people  tVoni  immorality  ;    it  was  lillin::-np 
the  parish  church  :   some  who   had  not    for  years   iieeii  se(>n   ther(> 
were  now   in  attendance."      She   would  stoj)  such  i:atherint:-s  for 
no  man's  o'l-umhliiiu-,  hut  she  would  olx-y  lawful  aiithoritv.     "('<>ni- 
niiiiiil  me  to  desist."  she  says,  and  she  would  do  so  at  once,  and  he, 
as  husi)and  and  pastor,  must  take  the  responsihility.     ,liist    such 
a   l>:il:mce  of   zeal,   consi-ienee   and   loyalty   appears   later  in  the 
eliaracter  and   care(>r  of  her   illustrious  >oii.  and  in  no  small  de- 
cree fitted  him   for  his  work  as  founder  of  a   Ohrislian   iiisiUtute. 


3 


30 


77/e   t^/ori/  of  JlclliotI Isni. 


lit 


il 


l^- 


r     I 


Tills  t'liralc.  .Mr.  Imnaii.  was  a  vvvy  |)rart!(al  prcaclu"'.  In  cvcrv 
sci'Uioii  lie  uri2('(l  llic  payiiiii'  of  dclils,  and  of  this  the  people 
coMiplained.  Mr.  AN'cslcy  went  to  licar  him  i)rc'acli  on  llic  Xaturo 
of  Faith.  His  second  sentence  was  :  "  It  makes  a  man  pay  hi> 
d(>l>ts  as  soon  as  he  can."  .Mi'.  \\'esU'y  agreed  that  "his  ease 
was  lost  "  and  we  hear  no  fmther  ohjeetions  to  .Mrs.  ^^'esley■s 
c'(jurse. 

Of  the  ten  ehildren  who  came  to  adnlt  years,  live  Ix-eame  iiote<l 
for  rare  and  lirilliant  endowments.  Samuel  was  the  eldest  son, 
and  was  consecrated  "as  Heaven's  by  an  inalienal)le  ritiht,"  as  liis 
noble  mother  told  him.  From  his  birth,  in  llJUO,  he  was  thouuht 
of  defective  mind,  lor  he  did  not  speak  until  past  four  years. 
lie  then  l)urst  out  and  answered  correctly  a  ((uestion  put  in  his 
presence  concerninii'  himself  to  a  servant.  .Vfter  beini>-  at  school 
in  Westminster,  he  went,  at  sevenl'eii,  to  Oxford,  where  his  lariio 
and  ardent  mind  overtlowed  the  limi's  of  the  FniviM'sity  routine, 
and  he  early  became  known  in  ^'('ueial  scholarship.  He  was  a 
Tory,  and,  usinii' his  wit  against  A\'al|)()le,  that  minister  ob.-!ructed 
his  advancement,  alleuinu'  as  a  reason  lii.->  marriau'i'.  This  was  his 
occasion  of  an  eiciiant  poem  to  his  wife,  uloryinu'  in  the  "error" 
and  refusiuii"  to  reiiret  it. 

His  poetical  uifts  were  tine.  It  is  stranii't'  h()W  jjoetry,  which 
their  father  was  e\-er  \ainly  attempt iuu',  and  which  their  mother 
iil'iiored.  was  wonderfully  honored  in  the  children.  To  Samuel 
we  owe  some  of  our  best  hymns:  "The  morninu'  llowers  disj)lay 
their  sweets  :  "  "  The  Lord  of  Sal)baths  let  us  praise:"  "Hail, 
Father,  whose  creat  inn' ('all."  This  eldest  brother  was  too  strict 
a  Hiiih  ( 'hui'chman  and  too  unbending'  :i  Tory  to  approve  the 
course  ot'  his  younger  brothers.  ( )f  this,  however,  he  lived  to 
see  i)ut  little.  After  twenty-seven  years"  service  as  teacher, 
beiuii"  !it  the  time  Iletid  Master  of  the  School  at  Tiverton,  he 
ended  a  life  of  toil,  inteuritv  and  love,  lust  as  his  brother,  in 
Ijundon,  was  formini:'  the  Tnited  Societies,  the  tirst  distinct  phase 


Tlic    Or'njin   I  if  Mclliodisiit. 


f)  t 


Ik."'.  Ill  every 
is  the  ])e()j)Ie 
on  the  X.'iture 
1  niMii  |)!iy  his 
h;it  "liis  ease 
Urs.  A\'esle_v"s 

heeiiine  noted 
le  eh  lest  son, 
riuht,"'  as  his 
'  AViis  thought 
four  years. 
n\  put  in   liis 
ini:'  at  sehool 
icre  his  lari>e 
sity   routine. 
He   was  a 
'r  oI>.- trueted 
'I'his  was  liis 
tile  "error"' 

;>etrv,  wliieh 
lieir  iiiotlier 

i'o  Samuel 
wers  (lisj)lay 
^e:"  '-Hail. 
as  too  strict 
ii})l)rove  the 
he    ii\e<l   to 

as   teaelier, 
riverton,  he 

brotlier.  in 
istinet  phase 


(if   Mrtliodisni   as  an    Institute.      lie  was   not  (|iiite   lit'ty  years  of 


a  :;■('. 


'Hie  (lauditers  of  the   family  were   not  helow   their  brothers    in 

i;it'i<   and    ;iraces.       Tliere    was    Susanna — Mrs.     Kllison "  very 

(iicetjous  and  a  little  roniantie";  and  Mary,  deformed.  ])ut    full  of 
liiiiiiiiity   and   i^oodness,    whose   e\(|uisite   faee   reyealed   a    mind 
aiiii(»>t  aniiclie.     Ke/iali,  crossed  in  love,  was  of  too  vii;-orous  sense 
f(.  sink  under  the  trial.      She  chose  to  live  "  disenuaired  from  the 
udild."   and,  though  solicited  to  marry,  she  felt  unable  "  to  dis- 
cliaiize  a  wife's  i>reat  duty  as  she  ouuht."      She  died  unmarried  in 
1741.    Mehetahle  was  unfortunately  married,  and  pined  in  neulect 
and  unkindness.      Iler  health  uave  way,  and,  in  her  nielancholv, 
she  wrote  sweet,  sad  poems  to  her  husband,  Mr.  Wriiiht,  to  her 
dyiiiii'  infant,  and  an  epitaph   for   hei-self.     This   was  the   i^avest, 
biinhtest  of  the  house,  who  at  <'i,iiht  years  read  the  (Jreek  Testa- 
iiieiit.      In  later  y(>ars,  the  consolations  of  ivliuion  iiave  her  com- 
fort and  peace. 

Mrs.  Hall,  AFarthu,  was,  in  looks,  closely  like  her  l)rotlier  dolin, 
and  their  hearts  were   one  in   the  tenderest   synii)atliy.      She   said 
her  brothers  and  sisters  took  the  family  wit  and  left  her  none,  Imt 
she  had  ample  iiitelliii'eiice,  and,  what  Poju"  was  then  praisino-  as 
chief  of  all  thiiiiis — sense.      She   loved  her  mother  iiit(>nsely,  and 
was  loved  with  even  more  than  would  have  ln-eii  her  shar(>  of  her 
mother's   heart.      Her  history   was  sad   enough.      Mr.  Hall   led  a 
wretched,  outranvous  life.    Yet  her  character,  amid  all  the  blights 
lliat  fell,  was  beautiful,  and  her  clear,  calm  mind  undimmed.     Dr. 
Johnson  ardently  admired  her,  was  fond  of  disciissino-   with   her 
ill  theolooy  and  philosophy,  which  she  could  enrich  and   illustrate 
with  ample  (|U()tations  of  poetry  and  history.      The  ureat  I'uler  in 
literature  even  wished  her  to  make  her  home  l)eiieatli  his  hospi- 
table roof.      She   outlived  all  her  sorrows,  outlived,  too,   all   her 
hrothers   and   sisters.     In    ITiU,   she  passed   from   this   world  in 
peace.    She,  who   had   l)een   the    most    loved   of  all,  thus  liiiuvred 


11' 


~""  ■  ,—,-»,„ 


38 


The  )>)((>i'i/  of  Me(h<)(Usi)ii, 


f 
'I 


to  comfort   the  lives  of  all,   anVl    was  "the    last    of  that    briiiht 
hand."' 

It  is  well  to  take  fully  into  our  aeeount  this  Chi'istiau  family. 
Self-centered  and  self-cultured,  such  anothei-  is  hard  to  \\\\<\.  All 
who  iiTcnv  uj)  were  ardent  Christians  for  their  life-times.  "  Such  a 
family,"' says  Adam  Clarke,  "I  have  never  I'cad  of,  heard  of,  or 
known,  nor  has  there  heen.  since  the  days  of  Abraham  and  Sarah, 
and  .lose))!!  and  Mary  of  Na/.areth,  a  family  to  whom  the  human 
race  has  heen  more  indebted."" 

We  ])ro|)()se  now  to  ti'ace  more  closely  the  early  IIncs  of  tlu^ 
two  Itrothers  who  were  called  to  the  i:reat  work  of  oriiani/inu' and 
])romotinu'  in  the  world  that  renewal  of  Christianity  called  .Meth- 
odism. 

John  A\'esl(>y  was  Itorn  in  the  year  after  that  esti-anirement  of 
his  pai'cnts.  It  was  when  tiie  Duke  of  Marlborouii'h  was  prepar- 
ing' l"or  thai  ureat  career  that  made  I"Jiiiland  first  amoni:'  the  \m)\\- 
ers  of  the  woi'ld  that  the  boy  api)eared  who  was  to  save  Knuland 
Irom  her  own  undoini:',  a  task  which  neither  warriors  nor  states- 
men could  perform.  It  was  the  fu'st  noted  event  of  his  lite  when 
tho  Epworth  jjarsonan'c  was  iturued.  Mrs.  ^^^'sley  has  uiven  a 
lively  and  u'raphic  ai'count  of  the  all'air.  "Hetty"" — Mehetalde — 
was  awakened  by  sparks  lallinii'  from  the  roof.  ui)on  her  feet .  at 
midnight ,  of  \\'ednesday.  Fel)i'uary  lb  ITO'.b  She  was  very  ill, 
could  neither  climb  to  the  windows  nor  ti'et  to  the  garden  door, 
the  only  oiu'  accessible.  She  2'a\<' a  monu'ut  to  j»rayer.  "  then 
\\aded  through  the  lire,  which  did  me  no  further  harm  than  a  lit- 
tle scorchini:'  of  my  hands  and  face.'"  .VII  had  esi-ajx'd  luit  John, 
then  six  years  old.  He  I'an  to  a  window,  and  was  seen  by  those 
outside.  A  stroui:'  man  lifted  a  lighter  one  upon  his  shoulders, 
and  this  latter  took  the  lad  from  the  window.  -lust  then  the  roof 
lell  inwai'd,  so  that  none  were  harmed.  "Come,  neighbors, "'  said 
Mr.  Wesley,  when  .lolm  was  brouiiht  into  a  house  where  the 
familv  found  shelter,  "let  us  kne(d  down  I      Let  us  liive  thaidvs  to 


The  Oi'lii'in  of  M(;tJio((!siii 


3l» 


if  thill    l)ri,i:ht 

istiaii  family. 
[  to  Hnd.  All 
IK'S.  "  Such  a 
'.  heard  of,  or 
am  and  Sarah, 
)m  the  human 

y  li\('s  of  the 
oriiani/.iuu"  and 
;  c-alk'd   Meth- 

tranuenuMit   of 
ill  was  prcpar- 
loni:'  the   })o\v- 
savc    Kuii'land 
)rs   nor  statcs- 
his  life  when 
has  iiiviMi   a 
— Mchctahlc— 
)n  her  feet .  at 
was   very   ill, 
oai'dcn  door, 
liraycr,  "  tlu-n 
rm  than  a   lit- 
pcd  hut  riohn, 
M'lMi  l>y  those 
his  shoulders, 
then  the  roof 
iiihhors,"'  said 
se    whert^    the 
uive  thanks  to 


t 


(i()(l!     lie  has  iriveii  me  all  of  my  eiiiht   children;  let   the   house 
o(,.  1  am  rich  enou.ii'h  I" 

,l(iliii  \\'e>ley  was  deejjly  impressed  M'ith  this  event.  The 
li()U«'  did  "  u'o,"  with  all  its  contents.  Oidy  the  family  were 
saved,  and  his  own  was  a  hair-hreadth  escape.  In  one  of  his 
c;irl\    prints  is  represented  a   Iturnin^'  house  with  a  child  heing 


i 


l>    NOT     TIMS  A   IIKAM)    rHTKi:i>    FROM     I'lli;    m!!MN(i  ?  " 


rescuetl  at  an  u))per  window.  And  this  is  the  insciiption  :  "Is 
not  this  a  hi-and  ))lucked  from  the  l»urnini>  V"  The  founder  of 
Methodism  w:is  to  stay  until  his  work  was  done — more  than 
foui'-scoi-c  eai'nest,  active,  etlicient  years  thereafter. 

At  nine  \-eai's,  John,  with  four  other   children,  had  the  small- 


40 


J h('    Shn'i/   (if  MiIIkkI I'siu . 


■i\ 


pox.  L;i(lv  .MoiilMiiu  li;i(l  iii>t  iiitr()(liicc(l  iiiociilMt  ion  1o  llic 
world's  notice,  Nut  Jcimci'V  wiccinnlion  wns  not  to  rciicxf  the 
<li>(';i>('  for  more  tli;in  a  Iniiidrcd  years  yet  to  come.  ".laciv," 
writes  liis  iiiollier  to  Iii>  f'atliei'  in  London,  "lias  hore  his  diseast- 
l)ra\('ly .  like  a  man,  and,  iiidee(l.  like  a  ( 'lirist ian,  witliont  any  eoni- 
plaint  :  lliouiili  he  seemed  aniiry  at  the  sinalI-])o.\  when  they  wci'e 
>ore,  as  w  ('  i:ues>ed  liy  lii>  lookiniz' sourly  at  them,  lor  he  never 
said  anythiiii:'.'"  She  already  had  some  toreteelini^'  that  this  was 
to  he  the  loi'emost  ol'  her  tamily,  and  she  says,  with  emphasis; 
"I  do  intend  to  be  more  partieidarly  careful  ol"  the  >oul  ol"  this 
child."  Well  and  wisely,  indeed,  did  >lie  train  him  t"oi'  that  un- 
known, hut  not  unt"elt,  lii,iih  callinii' I 

Dui'inii'  these  years   sti'anii'e  "noises"   were   heard    at    the    K])- 
worth  parsonaii'e.     They   wei-e  lirst  heard   in  the   whist lin^"  ot"  the 
wind  outside.      Latches  wei'e  lifted:   windows  rattled,  and  all  me- 
tallic substances  raniz'  tunet"ully.     l\\  a  room  where  per>ons  talkecl, 
sani:',  or  made  any  noi>e,  its  hollow  tones  uaxc  all   the  loudei"  ac- 
companiment.     Thei'e  \\as  a    sound   ol"  doors  >lannninL:',   ol"  cur- 
tains draw  iiiLi,  ol"  >lioes  dancinn'  without  a  wearer.     When  any  one 
wi>he(l  to  pass  a  door,  it>  latch  was  politely  lil'tecl  for  them  I)et"ore 
tlioy  touched  it .      A    trencher,  untouched  upon   the   tal>le,  danced 
to  unheard  nnisic.      'I'he  house-doi;',  w  iih  furious  harkini:',  met  the 
unseen  intruder,  the    first    day,  in   l>ra\('  mast  ill'  >tyle,  t»ut  there- 
iiftei'  he  sneaked,  cowed  and  whinini:",  hehiiid  >ome  human  friend. 
.\t    family   prayei's  the  "  ji'ohlin  "  uave  thundering;"  knocks  at   tho 
.\men,  and,  when  Mr.  AN'eslcy  pi-ayed  for  the  Kiiii;',  the   disloyal 
beini:'  "pushed  him  violently""  in  anii'cr.    'I'he  stout  I'cctor  shamed 
it ,  t"or  annoyiuii"  <"hildren,  and  dai'ed   it   to  meet    him   alone  in   his 
study  and  pick  up  a  iiauntlet  thei'e.      //   nlici/cd  Mrs.   W'cslci/.      Tf 
she  stamped  on  the  lloor  and  hade  it  answei',  its  resjjonse  was    in- 
^^tallt.      If  one  said,  "  It    is  only   a   rat,"  the   noise   was  the  more 
fast  and  furious.      At  last  the  family  seeme(l  to  enjoy  their  lively 
and   harndess   unseen  L!uest.  and  wheji,   after  two  months,  he  left 


Tin:    ()i'iiini    uf  M<  llmd isi 


41 


l;iti(iii  to  the 
()  rclicxt'  tlic 
lie.  "  .lack," 
I'  his  disease 
loul  any  coiii- 
icii  llicy  were 
t'oi'  lie  never 
llial  lliis  was 
ill  eiiij)liasis  : 
'  sou!  oi"  this 
I  ioi'  that    un- 

[    at    the    !•:])- 
istliiii:-  of  the 
I,  and  all  me- 
ltons talked, 
le  ioudei"   ae- 
lini:',  of'  ctii'- 
lien  any  one 
them  Ix'lore 
il»le,  danced 
inii'.  met  the 
.  I)iit  there- 
man  friend, 
ocks  at   tho 
he   disloyal 
tor  sliained 
done   in    his 
llV.s/^y.       If 
nse  was    in- 
is  the  more 
their  lively 
iths.  he  left 


liienu  lh<'y  l<'>f  i"i  amnsement  I  Many,  then  and  >ince.  iiavo  tfic ;{ 
i(,  explain  llif  case.  Jl  was  thought  to  he  a  >i)ii'it  strayed  hcvond 
it-  home  and  clime,  as  an  Arabian  locust  has  l»een  found  in   Hyde 


Park.  ( )f  sucli  ihinus  this  wi'iter  lia^  no  theory.  There  are 
more  thiuLis  in  heaven  and  eai'tli  than  hi'-  knowledii'e  or  philoso- 
pliy  can  compass.     Oidy  lie  is  sure  that  outsid(>  of  this  world  lies 


J 


42 


Thff   f^fori/  of  MiIIkxI Isiii, 


a  s))iritiiiil  (loiiiiiiii,  iiiid  it  is  iidt  straiiirc  tlisil  llicrc  should  Itc  iu- 
tci'c'oiniminicalion.  In  those  days  there  was  iniieh  hlaidv,  sensual 
uiil)eliet'.  \v\  the  apj)arilion  ot"  Mrs,  \'eal,  a  ticliou  hy  the  writer 
of  Kohinsou  Crusoe,  was  widely  helie.-ed,  and  Dr.  .lohnson  never 
dou])ted  that  a  lihost  was  hauntini:'  Cock  Lane,  in  London.  The 
ofl'eet  ot'  these  "  Kpworth  noises'"  on  John  ^^'esley's  mind  was 
exe(dlent.  Jt  tauii'ht  him  to  aeknowleduc  fully  the  spiritual  world, 
and,  at  the  same  time,  neither  to  fear  nor  regard  il.      I  le  lielievoc) 


III.\1!TI:U-1101SK  SlllUOL 


in  (rod  evei'V  hour  of  his  life  :   with  spii-its  he  had  >imi)ly  noth- 
inii"  to  do.      IIi>  ealliuii'  did  not  ero>s  their>. 

.Vt  thii'teen,  riolm  left  Lpworth  home  t'or  >chool.  in  London. 
Charter-House,  a  (|uaint  l)uildin;L:'  at  the  ujjper  end  of  Aldersuate 
Street  (now,  alas  I  to  l)e  taken  down  for  "  improvements  ") ,  was, 
of  old,  a  monastery,  of  Cai'tlmsians.  from  whom  il>  name  eomos 
In  con'uption.  In  the  tierce  times,  the  skin  of  a  Danish  jjiratc 
had  l)een  naiU-d  to  its  door.  In  jflll.  the  y<'ar  of  Kinii'  .lames' 
Hil)le,  il  liad  l»ecn  Iiomiiit  and  endowed  li\-  Sir  Thomas  Sutton  as 


Thff    Orifiii,    (,f  Method  ism, 


4H 


should  he  in- 
'•l.'iiik,  sciisiml 

l>y  the  writer 
■loliiisoii  iicvor 
I^oiulou.     The 

y"s     mi  IK  I     \v;,s 

pirituiil  world, 
II<'  l»«'Ii('vp(] 


iiHj)ly   iiofh- 

in  Loudon. 

Aldcrsojite 
Ills"),  was, 
mine  couios 
luisli  pirate 
^iii,2"  daincs' 
s  Sutton  as 


liospiti.l,  chiiiK-l  Mud  scliool-lunise.     Haoou  calls  it  "a  triple  o(„,d,- 
and    Fuller    "tlM"   nmsteri)ieee    of    I'rotestaut  -  Kn<.|isli     eliarilv." 
1 1.. re  were  sueli  hoys  as  Addisou  and  Hlac^Ustone,  of  earlier  days, 
and  (irote   and   Tl.aekeray,  of  later.      Provision  is  here   ina(h"  for 
the  M.n>  of  "poor  -enth'nu'u"  who  are  anxious,  yet  unal.le.  to  ed- 
u.ate  iIh'U-  >ons,  and   th..   roll   „f  its   pupils   proves    what    it    has 
<lonc  for  Knuland  and  the  wcu'M.       When  the  lad  d„hn  was  there, 
the  older  pupils  were  tyrants  „ver  the  youn.ovr,  eatinu-  the  l„.st  „f 
llH'ir  (o<.d.  Mn<l  niMkin-  them  "fao,"  as  Tom    lirown  an<l  many  an 
•      Kn-lish   hoy   has   fao-e,!  at    Kton   and    kuohy.     .h,],,,    ran   three 
times  eaeh  mornino' around   the  ample    oarden.  and   the  place    he- 
came  so   dear  to   him,  hyhis„wn    oood  conscience  there,   and  his 
success   in   study,    that    1h«   paid    it    afterwanis    anmial   visits    and 
refp-shed    himself   with    its    su.my  memories.       L.-avino-   him    in 
hi>   preparMtion    for    the    Tnivershy,     w<.    trace    the    hoyl,„„d   of 
( 'harlcs. 

He  was  yomio-er  than  John    hy  mon-   than  live  y.-ars.      In   the 
family  at  Ki)worth,  the  fut.nv  po(.t  ma.h"   no  marked  H-ure.       Me 
di<l  not  "lisp  in  munhers"  as  po.-ts  horn  are  wont  to  (h,.     J^.  uas 
only  spri-htly  and  active.  <,,n,.k   t<.  learn,  and   uuluckv  in  hoyi.'h 
pn.nks.      At  eio-ht  years.  hc«  was   sc-nt  to  Westminster  to  he  pupil 
in  llH'  school  of  which  his  eldest    hrotluM",  Samuel,  was  an   usher. 
Thi>  -enerous  hrother  supported  Charles,  trainin-  him  v.-ry  care- 
fully in  his  own   Ili-h-Church  ]n-inciph>s.      Charles   had   now   "a 
fair   escape-,"  as   John   calls    it.    from    another   (U'stinv.      Richard 
AVesley.    a     kinsman   to    Kpw<,rth,  was  a  c-hildless  ,nan.  of  lan-e 
fortune,  in  Ireland.     11,-  wrote  to  ask  if  there  was  a  "Charles  Wcs, 
hy  ■•  there,  tor  such  a  one  hc>  would  -ladly   a<U,pt.       He   assumed 
at  once  the  lad's  expenses.     When  Charles  o-n-n  older  he  declined 
the  oiler,  and  another  was  a.h.pted  in  his  plac...    This  on,,  hecanio 
Baron    Mornin-ton,    nran.lfather   of  "Arthur   AV(>slcv  "   (  Vnalvst 
^pellin^,   1N(.,„.    ,)u,,.   of  Wellington.    an<l  victor  at  Waterliu) 
feueh  an  n.c.dent  tuakes  one  think.    H<,w  c-asilv,    ha.l  it  so  plc-.sed 


<     I, 


II    ■:• 


wWh 

if.foi'J.'v.X'^. 


i:kv.  chai:i,i:s  \vi:.sl>;v.  a.  m. 


Till-    Or  i' I  ill    of'  Mftlinil  isiii 


4.') 


lli.'(in'iit    Onliiincr,  lui-lit    the    woi'ld    li;i\c   iiii>>f(|  o|"  ihc    urcul 
(,ciii'r:il  iiiid  tilt'  .urciil  I'ort  ! 

(liiirlcs  \\iis  ('ii:lit('('ii  when  lie  Avcnt  lo  the  l'iii\»'r>it\'. 

r;i->iiiii'  lidw  I'roiii  Itdvliood.  tlioc  lM(-ii  were  well  runii>lu'(l  loi' 
llic  c'lrcci'  wliicli  \v:i>  to  n|>cli  Ix'lui'c  llicili.  Ill  person  llicy  were 
IimkIIn  oI"  ;i\ craiic  slnturc  lnil  tliry  were  ot"  >yiiiin('try  aclinii'jihlc 
Tlii'ir  pliy-ifitl  luiliits  were  dl'a  S|);irt;iii  v;\>\.  They  could  ciulure 
toil  Mild  liuii,i:'er,  not  oidy  willi  i);itieiiee,  hut  even  ii  stoical  disre- 
MMi'd.  doliii  liiid  II  niarNcloiis  conmiand  of  sleep.  It  e;inie  at  hisi 
call.  and.  for  ti ft y  years,  this  '"  chief  iioui'i>lier  at  life's  feast  "  never 
faih'd  to  i:'i\'c  liiiu  jn'onipt  and  uiil)i'oken  refrcslnnciit .  In  all  his 
lii()\(Miieiits.  whether  he  spoke,  oi'  walked,  or  I'ode,  his  ease  and 
eiieriiy  were  wonderful,  and  his  Itody  randy  failed  to  do  the  l)id- 
diiii:'  of  lii>  mind.  Uoth  ln'others  were  sweet  and  powerful  sini:- 
eis.  Indeed,  the  Mpworth  home  was  a  very  nest  of  souiisters. 
The  family  of  Charles  retained  this  musical  tii ft ,  and  a  son  lu'caino 
Mil  artist  of  eminence,  and  two  of  his  i:reat-i:raiulsons,  now  Kn- 
i^lisli  clergy  men,  have  kc))t  sometliinj:'  of  tlicii"  inlieiMtance.  The 
lirothers  sauii"  their  own  hynms,  not,  however,  exteniporizini:-, 
niid  their  clear,  strouii'  voices  often  ser\'ed  to  ([ludl  the  rude  and 
riotous.  .More  \ii!()rous  int(dlects  than  theirs  rar(dy  entered  the 
I'liivcrsity.  -lohn's  memory  was  wonderful.  To  his  dyinu'  day 
lie  seemed  to  forii'ct  no  person  or  incident.  He  marks  h()\v  lirand- 
sons  chauii'c*!  the  estates  that  he  had  seen  lifty  years  hefore.  He 
touched  upou  every  hraiu-h  of  human  Icarniiiii',  and  only  Art 
seemed  to  he  that  for  which  he  could  allord  no  leisure.  lUit  he 
lijid  a  liv(dy  feelim:'  of  the  heautiful  in  nature,  and  one  to  whom 
poetry  and  music  were  so  couii'enial  and  ohedient.  was  not  witli- 
out  artistic  ca})acity. 

The  l)r()tlu'rs  entered  Oxford  as  Christian  men.  Thoy  brought, 
from  Ki)W()i'th,  to  their  schools,  deep  convictions  of  Christian  Inith 
and  unfalteriniT  contideuce  in  the  Founder  of  the  Christian  re- 
liLHon.     Thev  were  leading'  l»lam(de>s  lives  :   they  looketl  forward 


iG 


77/''    Shifi^    itf   Millii III iShi . 


to  clu'cl'l'lll  service  ill  t  lie  ( '|iiil'<'li,  Ic  I*!li;:l;ili<  1  Jilid.  t  linilii:il  Kll- 
glaiid.  Id  iii;iiikiii(l.  W'r  >li;ill  >•■<•  liou  .  in  llirir  liciirl-,  convict  ions 
led  to  cNpci  icncc-< ;  liow  lonuini;-' iind  >t i'ui:i:lcs  .'ilicr  "  more  lit*' 
iind  fuller "  were  >;itislied,  jiiid  how  tliey  were  endowed  with 
power  iVoin  on  liiiih.  >o  ;i>  to  enter  njion  their  c'lreer  "like  strong' 
men  to  run  ;i   r;ice.'" 

We  li!i\('  presented  the  tiimilv  :it  I'^pworth.  iind  the  Vouii"'  H'es- 
h'vs.lhns  I'ully — perluips  more  t'liily  than  is  in  due  i)rop()rtioi  tuis 
Itook — ItecMUse  u  e  li:i\('  ill  it  such  all  e.\ain|»le  and  such  tcaeliini:'. 
The  Church  and  the  world  are  u'i\  in,::'  »'ver  lamer  honor  1o  thci 
hoiix'hold  ill  which  were  la-<hioiied  such  helpers  ol"  the  human 
race.  (^)iiite  recent Iv .  t he  I lyniiial.  which  will  >oon  ite  used  in 
saci'ed  soiii;-  more  widely  than  any  other,  heais  the  name  of  l"]p- 
woi'tli.  to  perpetuate  t  he  >Weet  home  t  hat  did  >o  much  to  hriliu" 
mii^ic  into  the  modern  >er\  ice  of  the  ('linrch  I'roin  which,  in  the 
1  U(i  pre\  ioiis  eeiitui'io,  il  liadlieeli  painfully  excluded:  '"  where 
soii^^s  ro>e  iVolii  lilT.tel'ul  lieaiM-  to  the  li>teliilii!'  lieaven>."  and 
iieiiiiihors  were  drawn  to  a  worship  kiiidreil  to  that  <»f  »Ier'  'in, 
which  i^  aliove  the  home  eternal  in  the  lieaxcn^. 


\ 


^.  coiiviclidiis 

'V  "  IIKM'C    lilt' 

idowcd    with 
'■  liUf  stronji; 

■  vouii"'  n't's- 
xii'lioi  .iiis 
icli  Iciiciiiiiji'. 
lioiior  1()  llic 
)l'  the  liiiiuaii 
II  !)('  used  in 
ii;iliif  of  I'^j)- 
lu-li  l(t  hrinu' 
which,  in  the 
(led  :  "  where 
(•;i\('li>.*"  Mild 
»f'  .Ici"  'Ml. 


.IiMis  cvi.vi.N,  rreuch  I'rotustaiit  Kcformcr,  not-n  l.vm,  I)ica  l.")t;i. 

.Ions  in;  Wvci.ir,    Kugllsh  Pa'fnrmcr,  anil  Translator  of  tlu"  JJiiilc,  Horn 

l.'.-.'l,  Died  1J:?4. 
Maktin  I-rniEl!,  LcaikT  of  (icniiaii  lii-ionaatiuii,  IJuni  IJ-.".,  DicmI  l.'Mii. 
.loii.N  Knox,  •Sfottisli  Reformer,  P.orn  ]."(i:i,  T)ie<l  ir.T-2. 
jMklaxctok,  (IcTiiiaii  Lutheran  Reformer,  Rorii  1  liiV,  DicU  \M). 


h: 


I  . 


'^''■W'^W' 

'^'1'  ' 

■■  V:-1 

t 

;      ';:f:i::|i,,,  ■    '" 

r 

■• 

■lii,  1'.' 

■"ii;i ;.  ... 

■f 

'1.       ■'      /'".'" 

:" 

■   >.V 

, 

•*       1 

:  ! 

*'  -    .  . 

'  ' : . 

^ 

i^ 

■■M. 


if! 


(  lIATTKi:   II. 

IJt'i      III     O.rfnnl. 


;i^ijv*      'J'  ().\l"i>r(l.   llif    W'olcy-    cniiic    into    >\\v\\ 
y^j'il  coimcctidii    willi    dlhcr-    of    tlicir    own 

V!^\l^f  ''.-*'   '""'    '"*'''"!'''<'•'■''    ill'"''    "111"   >t«'rv 

V\v<r  iiiu>t    cuilirju'c   iinicli    iiiorc   tlinii   tln'ir 

])('i's(tii:il  lii>l()r\  .  'I'lic  l'ni\  I'lsil  V  ;iii- 
tlioi'it  ics  were  :il;iniic(l  ;il  the  iirow  ill  of 
'^5^^~^  iiilidclitv  in  llic  I'nivcrsity .  :in(l  llic 
\'ic(' -  ('li;iiic('ll(ir  i»iU'(l  :in  "  edict  " 
.•iHMJiisI  it.  Tilt'  (Milr.'incc  ot"  the  \\'cs|cy>,  and  xtuic 
oilier  tiicn  iA'  kindred  >|)iril.  was  hetler  than  many 
edicts,  doliii  Wesley  i;a\e  liiiiiselt"  to  intense  stiuly^ 
ami  this  rapidly  (h-veloped  and  polished  lii>  nat* 
ural  altilitii'>.  For  reci'eatioii.  he  wrote  i>oelry,  aiu) 
his  lather,  scciiiLi'  in  hini  the  Liit!  deiiieil  to  hi-  own 
l()ni:iiiii>,  wrote  to  him,  "not  to  Itiii'y  hi>  talent."  In 
all  liis  reliu'ioii--  and  theoloLiical  readiuL:'.  hi>  inotlier 
was  still  his  i:iiide,  and  her  discussions  with  him  are 
acute  and  copiou>.  and  their  impres>ion>  deep  and 
la>tiiii:'.  In  the  clas>ics  ;uid  inatlieinal  it's  he  j)ro- 
Lii'csx'd  rapidly. and  hi>  >l<ill  in  loific  \\a>  iirealhad- 
niiicil.  Ai  t  w  t'lily-three,  and  Itel'ore  ItecomiiiL;'  Master  ol"  Arts, 
he  \\a>  clioseii  Lecturer  iii(ireei<.  He  had  already  t'oiind  that 
'"  there  are  many  thin;:s  not  worth  kn(»winu.  *  aiiil  he  wa->  actiiii;' 
on  the  maxim  wlii"h  he  at'terwards  ]iu1  in  lorni  :  "  N»'\-er  l»e  lui- 
einplosed  ;  iieN  er  he  t riirMi.ij;iy  employed."" 


i 


i! 


i  i 


50 


f 


' 


'J7(e  f^/nri/  of  Mdltodmn, 


U 


His  attainnHMits,  and  the  rcpulc  iiainod  at  tlu;  rnivorslty  as  "a 
lord  in  the  realm  of  mind,"  st'rvcd  well  his  work  in  many  a  later 
crisis. 

Ho  i>av('  liimsclt'  to  the  sci'vices  of  \\\v  ("Imrch,  and  was  or- 
dained Deacon  in  172."),  and  Priest  in  ITi^S.hy  Dr.  l*ottcr.  Bishop 
of  Oxford.  In  March,  17:^(!,  he  was  elected  Fellow  of  Lincoln 
College — i.  e.,  one  of  its  Iciial  nianau'ers,  with  a  salary  of  i!l')(Mi 
— now  woi'th  nnu'h  more.  After  his  ordination,  he  assisted  his 
father  as  cnrate.  In  all  his  reliiiions  and  churcidy  (hilies  he  was 
most  faithful,  hut.  as  a  Christian,  he  was  yet  unsettled.  He 
thouaht  of  hecomiiiii"  a  recluse,  or  of  openiiiij  a  school  "far  from 
the  maddeninii'  ci'owd."  His  niothei'  foretold  l)etter  work  for 
him.  ^V  "  serious  man,""  whom  he  went  some  miles  to  s(>e,  said 
to  him:  "The  I>il)le  knows  nothinu'  of  solitaiy  reliii'ion  ;  you 
cannot  ii'o  to  heaven  alone  :  younnist,  therefore,  tind  c()m})ani()ns, 
or  make  them."     \  word  it  was  in  season  I 

Kcturninu"  to  Oxford,  he  found  Charles  and  others  in  ,i  like  re- 
liirious  crisis.  These  naturally  formed  a  uroup  :  they  were  called 
the  Holy  Club,  the  Methodists.  They  were  the  Wesleys,  Mr. 
Morgan  and  Mr.  Kii'kham.  From  XoviMuher,  1721>,  they  heuan 
systematic  exercises  of  prayer,  study  and  discussion,  for  their 
own  l)enetit.  In  17;i().  Moriian,  a  warm-heai'ted  Irishman,  led 
his  ])retln'en  out  in  visits  of  mercy  to  the  poor,  the  ))risoners,  the 
sorrowinii'.  l>y  his  father's  advice,  \\'esley  referred  the  matter 
to  th(^  liishop,  and  received  that  prelate's  warm  a))j)roval.  ''I 
hear  my  son  John  has  the  honor  of  hein^Lr  >ty!e(l  the  '  l''ather  of 
the  Holy  Clul)":  if  it  he  so.  I  am  sure  I  nnist  he  the  grandfather 
of  it  :  and  I  need  not  say  that  I  had  rathei*  any  of  my  sons 
should  h(>  so  diunilied  and  distiniiuished  than  to  have  the  title  ot' 
His  Holinkss."'     A  stronir',  i'atherly  endoi-sement  I 

The  kind  and  ucnerous  .Morgan  (>arly  wort;  himself  out  in  his 
labors,  and,  returniui:'  to  Ireland,  died  in  peace.  Another  now 
api)ears  in  the  place  from  which  he  fell  out. 


Life-  at   (Jxford. 


51 


^nivcrsity  as  "  w. 
in  many  a  later 

'li,  and  was  oi- 
.  Potter,  Bislio]! 
How  of  Lincoln 
salary  of  Sir)(Mi 
,  he  assisted  his 
'  dnlics  he  was 
unsettled.  He 
eliool  "  far  from 
letter  work  for 
iles  to  see,  said 
'  reliirion  :  you 
nd  companions, 

■rs  in  .1  like  re- 

ley  were  called 

\\'esleys,  Mr. 

\1\K  tliey  Ix'u'au 

ion,  for  their 

Irishman,  led 

I'  ])risoners,  the 

I'ed  the   matter 

a])proval.     ''  1 

he  '  I'^ather  of 

he  i^randfather 

y   of  my   soirs 

Ive   Ihe  title    of 

|elf   out  in   his 
Another  now 


(ieorire  Whitetield,  the  chief  sai-red  orator  of  modern  times, 
\v:(>  Ixirii  at  Gloucester,  1714.  He  led  a  vicious  life  in  his  youth, 
'.(■(•uriu'j.".  as  he  says,  "a  titness  to  he  damned,""  yet  he  had  some 
deep  reliirous  feelinirs.  At  tifteen,  he  was  waiter  in  a  hotel,  and, 
ill  his  hlue  apron,  "washed  moi)s  and  cleaned  rooms."  Kempis' 
"  Imitation  of  ("hrist ""  fell  into  his  hands.  It  touched  his  heart. 
Hi-  iiit't  of  elotjuence  had  already  been  noticed,  and  he  heard  that 
lie  could  net  an  education  at  Oxford.  Thither  he  went  as  waiter 
;iii<l  >ervant.  expectiuii'  to  thus  provide  for  his  expenses.  He  was 
(Xtrenielv  devout,  and  was  constant  in  i)rayers  and  fastina',  hut 
the  wav  to  pardon  and  ])eace  with  (Jod  he  could  not  find.  "  I  no 
more  knew  that  1  was  to  he  horn  airain  than  if  1  was  never  horn 
;it  all."  He  had  heard  of  the  "  Methodists,""  and  "  loved  them," 
licfore  lie  came  to  Oxford,  and  he  now  took  their  part  airainst  all 
ridicule.  He  often  uazed  at  the  little  company  as  they  passed 
throunii  the  sneerini;:  crowd  to  church  and  sacrament,  and  longed 
to  he  one  of  them. 

At  last  the  younir  orator  was  introduced  to  Charles,  and  the 
vounu'  poet  took  him  into  lively  and  ardent  symjjathy.  Charles 
lirouaht  his  new  friend  to  the  Holy  Club.  They  tauuht  him  how 
to  live  to  the  irlory  of  God,  and  he  found  their  rcirimen  of  prayer 
and  praise,  of  nu'ditation  and  philanthrojn',  most  protitahle  and 
(lelii:litful.  Yet  lu;  was  art'ected,  as  Wesley  had  Keen,  hy  the  in- 
1en>e  unnodliness  around  him,  and  it  seemed  as  if,  in  oi-der  to 
serve  ( lod,  he  nuist  renounce  the  world  and  live  in  "  quietism  "  and 
seclusion. 

\\'esle_\  had  himself  overcome  this  feeliuir.  He  found,  as  ho 
aftei'ward  told  ^Irs.  Hamiah  More  to  do  in  London  society, 
"to  keep  in  the  world ""  is  Christian  duty.  "1  was  delivered," 
says  W'liitelield,  "from  those  wiles  of  Satan."  Here  was  a  siuht 
for  all  time  to  see  I  \'oltaire  was  then  sayinir,  "  I  am  tired  of 
heai-ini:- that  t\velve  nu'u  founded  Christianity  :  I  will  show  that 
one  man  can  overthrow  it  I""     So  it    looked,  vet  the   future  of  the 


4 


52 


TIk'  Sfoi'u  of  JlH//(ii/istii. 


^i 


II  i 


•I     T 


.11, 


Chiurli  and  of  the  world  lay  here  at   Oxford,  with  four  yoiiiii; 

mon.  })rc'|)arina'  to  unfold  in  freshness  and  viiior. 

John   was  now   invited  to  Kpwoi'fh  to  succeed  his  aged  father 

and  maintain  the  family  center.     Sanuud  joined  his  father  in  urir- 

in<r  the  matter,  and  an  earnest  del)!ite  ensued,     flolm   could   not 

consent  to  leave  Oxford.     Soon  Kpworth  vanishes;  the  family   is 

scattered,  and  the   Weslevs  are  known  there  no  more. 

"Not  a  rose  of  the  wilderness  left  on  its  stalk 
To  tell  whore  the  orardeii  had  beeu." 


UENEUAL  OULETUOUrE. 


Years  after,  Wesley  visited  the  place,  and,  forbidden  to  preach 
ill  the  church,  s})oke  from  his  father's  tombstone  to  crowds  that 
looked  up,  unfed  by  the  ])ii>()ted.  nei>liirent  incumbent. 

A  new  experience  now  opened,  that  this  man  of  Ood  might  be 
perfect,  thorouahlv  furnished  unto  his  irreat  callinu'.      lie  was 


Lift  at   O.iforif. 


ru) 


ith  tour  Vduni: 

his  agod  (hthor 
is  tiithor  in  urir- 
Jolm  could  not 
; ;  the  family  is 
more, 
alk 


(hlen  to  preach 

to  crowds  that 

cut. 

(rod  miji^ht  !)«' 

niir.      lie  was 


a-ki'tl  to  no  to  frcoriria.  with  Creneral  Oirlothorpe,  as  missionary 
U>  tilt'  Indians.  It  was  a  (juestioii  of  choice  between  the  calm  of 
the  venerable  I'niversity,  and  the  vexinir  toil  and  struuule  amonj!; 
siixiiiics  under  the  heats  of  the  South.  Hpworth,  an  intermedi- 
:it('.  lie  had  rejected:  (ieoriria,  at  the  opposite  extreme,  he  ac- 
cepted. His  au'cd  and  widowed  mother  wrote  him:  '' If  I  had 
iwcnlv  sons,  I  should  rejoice  that  they  were  all  so  employed, 
tliduirii  I  should  never  sec  them  apiin." 

Id  October.  ll'-Wu  the  Wesleys  left  Enaland.  On  the  ship 
were  a  v'ompany  of  Moravians,  with  their  liishop.  At  once  Mr. 
A\'c>lev  Itecame  the  head  of  the  little  connnunity.  The  sup  was 
iit  once  .1  church  and  a  school,  atloat,  in  the  routine  of  which  all 
look  part,  and  even  the  children  had  their  share,  after  the  fashion 
of  those  in  Hpworth.  Here  occurred  a  proof  of  piety  that 
tdurhed  Wesh'y's  heart.  He  had  noted  how  free  his  German 
fiicnds  Avere  from  pride,  anger  and  revenge.  A  terrible  storm 
came  on.  The  others  were  in  wild  alarm  :  the  (rermans  sang, 
cahnh  .  "  Were  you  not  afraid?"  asked  Wesley.  "  I  thaidv  (rod, 
no."  answered  one.  "  But  were  not  your  women  and  children?" 
"Xo,  our  women  and  children  are  not  afraid  to  die."  Wesley  felt 
that  his  simple  friends  had  a  freedom  from  mortal  bondage,  such 
as  he  had  not  reached. 

In  (ieorgia,  he  consulted  Spangenburg,  a  Moravian  pastor, 
about  some  plans  of  labor.  "I  must  tirst  ask  you  one  or  two  (jues- 
tions — Do  you  know  Jesus  Christ ? "  "I  know  that  He  is  the 
Saviour  of  the  world,"  replied  Wesley.  "True,  l)ut  do  you  know 
that  He  has  saved  t/oii?"  "  T  hope  He  has  died  to  save  me."  The 
^Moravian  added,:  "Do  vou  know  vourself?"  "  I  do,"  said  Wes- 
ley,  but  with  some  misgivings.  All  these  incidents  touched  his 
heart,  and  drew  him  towards  the  clear,  simple,  etfective  Christian 
exjx'rience,  which  he  was  soon  to  declare  to  the  world. 

They  found  the   Indians  inaccessible.     The  Colonists  were  of 
the  tyi)e  still  found  in  our  West.     They  were  demoralized,  and 


^ 


I  _JIUJH 


54 


Th<i  ^St(n'y  of  Mtthodisni. 


t 


the  still'  form  of  the  Chuirh,  though  iiriicd  with  the  utmost  zoal 
and  uttcf  sclf-dcniMl  l>y  tho  Wcslcys,  iriiincd  no  iiitUuMicc  ovci- 
them.  Tlic  Wcslcys  slc})t  on  the  iirouiid.  lived  on  hrcad  and 
wjiter,  and  went  barefoot,  hut  neither  their  views  nor  practices 
^vcrc  siu'h  as  to  win  souls.  After  a  year  of  toil,  amid  slander 
and  ])crsecution,  with  no  results,  Charles  i-eturncd  to  Kuii'liind. 
and  John  soon  followed. 

Durinii'  his  voyaii'c,  he  thouiiht  over  his  failure  and  its  causes, 
and  lie  gained  "an  entire  new  view  of  reliirion."'  His  own  needs 
])rcsse(l  u|)on  his  mind.  "I  went  to  America  to  convert  the  Indi- 
ans, hut,  ()  who  shall  convert  me?"  wroti-  he,  as  he  canu'  airain 
in  siii'ht  of  Eniiland.  After  his  years  of  devout  and  upi-iaht  liv- 
ing, he  loathed  himself.  "  I  am  fallen  short  of  tho  lilory  of  (n-d." 
His  views  of  councils  and  decrees,  and  Church  order,  his  earnest 
studies  and  self-denials,  and  ])rof()und  thinkiuirs,  uave  him  tio 
peace.     The  simple  key  of  faith  was  not  yet  in  his  hand. 

Whitetield,  too,  went  to  (icori^'ia,  and  his  outuoinu'  ship  passed 
A^'osley"s,  r(>turninu',  hard  l)y  the  English  coast,  takinu'  him  to  a 
hricf  c.\])ericnce  in  the  traininii-uround  of  the  New  World.  During 
AVeslev's  absence,  ^^'hitetield  had  risen  ahoNc  the  hoi-i/on,  full  or 
light,  and  sj)lendor,  and  gladness,  and  had  entered  upon  his  mar- 
velous career.  His  darkest  hour  before  the  dawn,  had  been  very 
dark,  indeed.  His  agony  of  mind,  over  his  soul's  condition,  be- 
camci  intense.  He  neglected  his  ))erson  until  his  employers  dis- 
missed him  for  his  shabbiness,  and  students  threw  dirt  at  him  in 
the  streets.  He  lay  "  whole  days  and  weeks,  prostrate  on  tiui 
ground."  in  prayer,  with  sweat  di'ipi)ing  from  his  lace,  or  trem- 
bling with  cold.  His  health  gave  way,  and  a  sickness  camo  on, 
"for  which  J  shall  bless  (iod  thi'ough  the  ages  of  eternity."  \h 
the  sevcMith  week  of  it,  he  saw  that  it  was  i\)v  him  that  the  Saviour 
(lied,  that  liis  sins  were  boi'ue  on  the  cross.  The  vision  Idled  iiis 
heart  with  strange  and  sudden  joy.  "On  that  day  my  joys  were 
like  a  s])ring-tide,  and  overliowed  the  banks;  go  where  I    would, 


lit 


the  utmost  zeal 
)  infliuMK'c  (ivcr 
I  on  l)r(>ii(l  and 
vs  nor  ])racti('('s 
il.  amid  slander 
led  to   Knuland. 

and  its  causes, 
Ills  own  needs 
onveit  the  Indi- 
is  he  came  ai:ain 
and  upriiiht  liv- 
}  ulory  of  (t(kI."' 
der,  his  earnest 
s,  ii'ave  him  no 
s  hand. 

)inii'  ship  passed 
akinu'  him  to  a 
World.    During' 

hoi'izon,  full  or 
I  upon  his  mar- 

,  had  been  very 
■;   eondition,  l»e- 

employiM's  dis- 
dii't  at  him  in 

ostrate   on  the 
faee,  or  treni- 

<ness  eanu>  on, 
eternity."     lii 

hat  the  Savioui- 

vision  Idled  his 
my  joys  were 

sliere  I    would, 


liEOIH.K.   WllITKl  IKLK. 


r>{] 


The  /Story  of  M('lli<nl!.^iit. 


'    ^ 


.1    'I 


1    I 


% 


I  could  not  avoid  sin<rin_ir  jjsalins  aloud  ;  aft(U'wai"d  they  Ix'canic 
more  .settled,  and  have  inereased  in  my  soul  ever  siuee."  ^^'hat 
a  preparation  tor  a  ureat  eallini!:  I 

The  Uishop  ot"  (Jloueester  wished  to  ordain  him.  Like  a 
kni^iht  of  old,  watehiuir  with  his  armor,  he  spent  the  hours  in 
l)rayer,  and,  at  his  ordination,  his  "Amen"  was  deep,  ;ji:enerous 
and  unreserved.  "  \\'hen  the  liishop  laid  his  hand  on  me,  I  pive 
up  myself  to  he  a  martyr  for  Ilim  who  hunir  u))on  the  cross  for 
Hie."  The  liishop,  with  his  blessinji',  uave  his  candidate  Hve 
jruineas,  nmch  and  timely  for  one  who  had  not  a  iiuinea  in  the 
world. 

IS'ow  entered  upon  his  work  the  evangelist,  chief  of  all  since 
the  Gospel  came.  To  the  marvel  of  his  preachinir,  all  of  his  day 
hejir  witness.  Hume,  the  hard  unheliever,  said  he  would  ijfo 
twenty  miles  to  hear  WhitcHeld  preach,  while  he  would  not  hear 
a  common  preacher.  Dr.  Fraid\lin,  after  pre-determinini:'  not  to 
liive  a  i)eimy  to  a  cause  which  he  was  to  hear  Whitetield  |)resent, 
emptied  his  ))ockets,  to  the  last  penny — twenty  pounds — and 
would  have  jxiven  his  whole  estate,  had  it  been  in  those  pockets. 

Besides  his  hlaziuir  heart,  the  evanaelist  had  rare  j)ers()nal  t|ual- 
ities.  IK'  was  tall  and  fair,  and  his  face  I)eamed  with  a  uenerous 
ardor.  His  i^-estures  and  urace  of  bearinii'  were  admirv'd  hy  tlios(> 
who  heard  (Jarrick  and  Chatham,  while  the  connnon  people 
were  in  wild,  uncritical  deliaht.  His  early  life  taught  him  how 
to  touch  the  connnon  heart.  To  this  was  added  "the  rinest  voice 
of  the  century,""  which,  in  its  delicate  tones,  was  still  audible  to 
thousands,  and  in  its  power,  often  rose  above  tlu^  noise  of  the 
elements  and  the  tunmit  of  the  peo])le.  Xo  such  orator  ever  yet 
spoke  our  Kuiilish  ton_<:ue.  Yet  the  excellency  of  his  power  was 
of  God,  and  not  of  himself. 

His  Hrst  sermon,  in  the  church  of  hi>  childhood,  ])roved  his 
power.  The  liishop  was  told  that  hfteen  of  the  heai'crs  had  u'oiui 
mad;   his  answer   was,  that  he  would   like  the  madness   to   abide 


Llf'i'  at    Oxford. 


.X 


siiu'c."      What 

him.  Like  w 
it   the   lioui's   ill 

(U'cp,  jieiUTous 
1  on  iiu',  I  iravc 
)n  the  cross  for 

caiulidiitc  Hvc 
I  uuiiu'M   ill  llic 

icf  of  all  siiR'c 

:,  all  of  his  (lay 

I  ho    would   iro 

would  not   hoar 

rininina'  not  to 

totiold  j)rosoiit, 

'    pounds — and 

thoso  pookots. 

personal  (|ual- 

ith  a  iionorous 

nircd  hy  thoso 

)innioii    pooplo 

lahl   him  how 

10  Hnost    voioo 

till  audihlo  to 

iK)iso   of  tho 

rat  or  over  yot 

lis  i)()wor  was 

il,  proved  his 
rers  had  i»-ono 
less   to   abide 


until  the  next  Sabbath.  lie  was  soon  i)rcaehin_ir  in  London. 
••  \\  li(»  is  ho?"  was  the  iiKjuirv  of  a  surprised  and  doliirhted  poo- 
i)|c.  who  throuirod  to  hanir  upon  his  lips  with  stranire  emotions, 
;iii(l  to  bless  him  as  ho  passed  alonu'.  The  (Jospid  soonu'd  to  them 
;i>  xjiuothini!'  newly  revealed  :  they  wore  startled,  and  under  it  had 
searcliiiiirs  of  heart,  such  as  they  had  never  felt  Ix'fore.  One  of 
til.' "  llolv  ("lub  ■"  had  thus  entered  upon  his  saered  oallinii.  and 
the  Club  itself,  at  Oxford,  was  increasing  in  numbers,  and  not 
(IccliiiiMg  in  character. 

U'eslov  now  wrote  from  (ioorgia,  calling  Whitetield  to  his  aid. 
"I)()  vt)U  ask  mo  what  you  shall  have?  Food  to  eat,  and  raiment 
to  put  Oil,  a  house  to  lay  your  head  in,  such  as  your  Lord  had 
iidl.  and  a  crown  of  glory,  that  fadoth  not  away."  U'hitetield's 
heart  leaped  as  at  a  bugle-call,  and  ho  hastono<l  to  do})art.  (ioing 
to  r»ristol,  to  take  leave  of  his  friends,  he  iiroachod  unwoariedly. 
People  o.^'  all  classes  and  denominations  (locked  to  hear  him. 
"Tlic  whole  city  seemed  to  be  alarmed.  \\\  the  crowded 
churches,  the  word  was  sharper  than  a  two-edged  sword,  and 
the  doctrine  of  the  New  liirth  made  its  way  like  lightning  into 
the  hearers"  consciences."'  Heturning,  after  a  short  absence,  the 
crowds  came  out  of  the  city  to  welcome^  him  and  l)less  him  as  he 
j)asse(l.  He  ])reached  live  times  a  week.  Men  climbed  to  the 
church-roof,  chmg  to  the  rails  of  the  organ-loft,  while  the  breath 
of  the  crowvl  within  condensed  into  drippings  on  the  pillars.  At 
his  farewell  sermon,  the  house  was  loud  with  sobs  and  weepings, 
and  until  the  next  midnight — all  the  livelong  day — he  was  sjxsik- 
iiig  counsel  a'.id  comfort.      lie  then  secretly  started  for  London. 

At  London,  all  the  city  was  stirred.  If  he  assisted  at  the 
Lord's  Supper,  the  elements  had  to  I)e  resupplied.  If  ho  spoke 
for  a  charity,  the  collections  wore  trebled.  The  police  were  em- 
ployed to  manage  the  crowds,  liefore  the  moi'uing  light,  throngs 
of  people,  as  at  the  Athenian  theatrical  representations,  tilled  the 
streets,  makiny;  their  way  l»y  lanterns  to  securt*  places  for  hear- 


I   il 


,  '[ 


>     !! 


LIf'i'  af    0.1  fori/. 


r.n 


•1 


,0,1 


'If 


1 11 


IIIMII    1^   < 


jiiu  liis  fell  o'clocU  sermon.  After  tliis  iiiiiiKMisc  siir  in  London, 
xuiie  were  i!l!i(l  of  his  depailure  for  (ieoi'iria.  for  lliey  feiireil 
wlierelo  this  lliini:'  would  urow  in  llis  excess  of  /,e;d.  As  we  have 
,,.cn.  ill  the  orch-r  of  that  l*rovi(h'nee.  to  whom  the  welt'are  of 
lear,  Wesley  was  not  far  away.  Ari'lvinn"  "at  the  land 
whithei'  he  would  l)e,"  he  enlei'ed  at  once  into  W'hitetield's  laltors. 
;iii(l  preached  to  the  same  crowds  :  "  If  any  man  l)e  in  Christ,  he 
i>  a  new  creatui'e." 

^^'Ilitelield^s  \()yai>"e  to  Amei'ica  was  with  a  ship-load  of  soldiers 
and  cMiiiirants.  who.  with  the  crew.  wiM'c  rouu'h  :md  uuLi'odJy. 
lie  was  faithful  in  C'hi'islian  lal)or,  and,  l>y  the  time  they  reached 
the  Colony,  there  was  a  visible  iind  L^'atifyini:'  chaiiiic  Four 
MioMtlis  he  spent  in  continuous  travel  and  lahor  amouii*  the  settle- 
ments, heiiiii'  spared  many  of  the  hitter  trials  which  the  \\'esley> 
had  home,  perhaps,  indeed,  because  he  had  attained  a  better  mind 
than  they.  The  colony  was  singularly  full  of  orphan  childi'cn. 
lie  determined  to  found  tor  them  an  asylum,  and  foi'  this  pm'|)ose 
he  returnecl  to  Kni:iand  in  the  autunm  of  \l'.\x.  The  u'i't'Mt  work 
upon  which  he  was  now  so  titted  to  enter,  upon  which  he  had 
already  entered,  was  fully  oja'ned  before  him:  the  work  truly 
calletl  "the  startinii'  point  of  oui"  mo(U'rn  religious  history." 

The  W'esleys  wei'c  not  yet  ready,  like  himself,  but  so  they  were 
soon  to  become.  John  \\'csley  (he  is  henc<'foi"th  ]\'i.s/rt/)  came 
upon  Kniilish  soil  in  temper  v(>rv  dill'erent  from  that  in  which 
AMiitetield  was  Iea\in_i2'  it.  The  llaminu'  orator  had  tak(Mi  for  his 
.seal  a  winu'ed  heai't,  with  the  motto,  "  Let  us  se(d\  the  stars'." 
A^'esley  was  bowed  and  broken  in  spirit.  lie  sadly  records  that 
he  had  left  his  native  land  to  teacii  the  Indians  the  natiu'e  of 
Chi'istianity.  "  What  have  I  myself  learned,  meantime?  What 
I  least  suspected — that  I  myself  was  never  (onverted  to  (iod." 
Tie  was  sure  that  he  was  not  alone  in  this  grievous  state.  Thou- 
sands, placed  like  hims(df.  learned,  serious,  and  servinu'  in  the 
Ciiurch.  were,  could  thev  but  feel  it,  no  better  coiiditiono(l  than 


(iO 


TItc  Hfort/  of  Mttlntdl.siii. 


If 


I     I 


I- 


\    \ 


I  r. 


»i. 


111'.      lie   rccoiiiils.  ill   (l('('|),  iVaiik    s(»lil()(|iiy,  liis  !ilt:iimii('nls.  his 
(IcvotioMs,  Ills  cIiMi'itics,  liis  l;ili()i"s,  liis  rcsiijfiiMlioii   to  the   Dixiiic 
Will.     "!)()  iill  tlicsc  lliiiiLis,  Ih"  llicy  more  or  less,  make  m   iiimii 
ncccptiildc    will)   (iod?      All    Hicsc,    wlicii    cMiiohlcd    l»y    t';iilli    in 
(  lirist,  aiv  holy,  Just  Mild  L''<K)<1.      Willimit    iKtIicy  arc  l)ul   diini: 
iiiid  dross.''     It  was  the  old  (|ii(.'stioii,  out  ol"  which  the  a^i'ony  ol' 
the  aii'cs  has  conic — 
"  How  can  a  man  he 
)iisl  with  (lod?"     lie 
wanted    soinet  liin<i' 
other  than  clouds  and 
uncertainties.    ". Mis- 
erable coiiit'orters  tell 
me  that  I  have  faith  ; 
so  have  the  devils  a 
a    sort   of  faith  :    hut 
still    ihey   are   straii- 
is'ers  to  the  covenant 
of  |)romise.  Theiaith 
]  want  is  a  sure  trust 
that,  through  the  mer- 
its of  Christ,  my  sins 
are  all  foru'iven,  and 
1     am    reconciled    to 
(iod."     He    lacked 
iiothiiiii"  hut  this,  yet 
this  is  the  one  only  sunshine  upon  a  liinnan  heart,  and  as  the  sun- 
shine LHves  to  the  earth  all  color  and  eiieriiy,  the  How  of     ■ 
the   liiow    of  heat   and    the    riiu'iiess    of   harvest,    .-.i.)    \  '<>■ 

W  esley  lacked,  was  the  only  source  of  joy  and  i    .  iv« 

("hristianit\-  its  irlorv. 

This  lack  was  soon  to  l)e  supplied.      He    who   comma)   I<m1   the 
liiiht  to  shine  out  of  darkness,  was  soon  to  till  His  servant-  heart 


lOCNT    ZIN/I.NI>()|iI'. 


JJ; 


n 


I 


Lif'i'  (if  O.I  f'o I'll. 


fil 


Itainmcnts,  his 
(()  llic  I)i\  inc 
■i.  iiiaUc  !i  m:iii 
mI  liy  I'jiilli  ill 
•  iU'c  l>iil  dimi:' 
li  the  auoMV  of 


liiid  as  tlio  sun- 
|»\v  of  str'"»»|j.< 
\\  I,; 

J    .         :iv( 

imiiiM     l<'il    tlio 
-crviiiit'-  heart 


witii  a  VISUM 


,ic-.ciit    >avi(» 


1  of  j/lory,  ill  a   kiutwh-diic  of  ( 'lirist  as  tlic  Inic  and 
111*.      It    >^!l^   t*>  collie  fi'iUii  a  people  of  another  land 


ind  laiiLina.L'e 


It  i-  now 


lour  liiiiKh'ed  vears.  and  more,  since  Iliissand  .leroiuo 


were 


lairiiecl  at  Prague,  in  Uolieniia.  'I'liey  represented  those 
|'iiit(-.|aiil-«  to  wlioin  Anne,  their  eoiintrv-woiuan,  iho  "rood  (^ueeii 
(if  h'ieliard  II.  of  l^nu'land,  had  sent  preaeliers,  trained  under 
Wvclil".  the  lirst  translator  of  the  liihle  into  Kiiiilish.  The  I'rot- 
<'-tani>  of  r>oheniia  had  fared  hard,  and  at  last  were  driven  from 
the  laiitl.      A    eoinpany    of    ten,  Heein^'   last    from    ^loravia,  and 


thel 


ICC   known 


as  Moravians,  found  refuir<'  on  the  «'stale  of  Count 


Ziii/ciidorf,  a  Lusatian  nol»h'iiiaii.  lie  named  their  home  "llerrn- 
liiit.  "  iVoiii  a  wish  of  liis  pious  steward  that  lieiu^  miiih"  arise  a 
cit\  whose  people  miuht  he  on  the  "Lord's  \\'ateli."  The  Count 
hiiii>elf  >uirere<l  for  the  faith,  lie  was  exiled  (thou^di  the  Countess 
held  tiie  estates),  and,  returninu',  was  imprisoned.  lie  ))reaehe(l 
in  various  ])arls  of  Kurope,  in  New  York  and  Pennsylvania.  At 
si.\t\  xcars  he  died  at  liome,  hlessinu'  ( iod  for  what  he  had  seen 
done  ainonii"  his  own  people,  in  other  ehurehes,  and  ainoiii:'  the 
heathen.  This  latter  word  may  he  emphasized,  for  the  Moravi- 
ans are  the  only  Christian  hody  of  whom  more  than  half  ari'  re- 
elaiined  I'apins. 

Fi'om  this  pe()i)le,  Wesley    was  now   to  receive   his  final   liaht. 


ai 


111 


id  his  yet-nei>de(l  impulse  :  from  them  he   was  to   borrow,  iilso, 

ucli  of  liis  organization  and  discipline. 
^^'e  have  noticed  his  ac(|uaintance  with  Spanuen])or_i>-  and  the 
Moiaxians,  on  his  voyaire  to  fieorii'ia.  They  had  seen  his  defects, 
and  he  had  seen  their  cheerful,  simple,  eil'ectual  piety.  The  same 
people  had  a  few  small  conLireuations  in  London,  and  a  ])reaclier, 
Peter  Hlthler,  had  just  come  to  serve  in  them.  Within  a  week 
after  his  own  lan-.lluii,  \\'eslev   met  this  i^ood  man,  on   Fehruarv 


7,  1 


(.).■^ 


I  dav  much  to  Ik;  rememberec 


d. 


Tl 


leir  conversations 


V 


•e  fre(|uent.     "By  l)t"ihler,  in  the  hand  of  the  ju^reat  (Jod,  I  was! 


# 


-na 


»       'I 


i  'Ir 


62 


T/ie  IStoi'i/  of  JJethodifun. 


oonviiK'cd  of  unholict".""  IIo  was  jiniazcd  iit  BlUilor's  iiccouiits  of 
the  liolincss  and  liappiiu'ss  which  attended  liviii<r  faitli.  He  studied 
the  New  Testanu'iit  on  this  point,  and  his  tillinu-  heart  Iteiran  lo 
lieavt^  and  ih)\v.  "  I  could  not  coniine  myself  to  the  forms  ot' 
prayer,  neither  <h)  I  proj)()se  to  he  coutiiu'd  to  them  any  more, 
hut  to  pray  with  a  form  or  without,  as  may  l)e  suitahU;  to  pai*tic- 
ulai'  occasions."  Extemporaneous  prayer  is  an  era  with  Wesley. 
BJihler  showed  that  this  faith  and  its  fruits  airree  perfectly  with 
the  teaciiinirs  of  the  Hook  of  Connnon  Prayer,  and  to  this  Wes- 
ley assented.  An  instantaneous  chaiiiic  of  heart,  a  })assin_i>'  at 
once  Into  pai'don,  love  and  peace,  was  the;  Moravian  doctrine 
which  stan'irered  him  most.  Vet  lie  owned  that  the  Word  said. 
"  Believe,  and  thou  shalt  Ix'  saved,"  and,  though  sad  and  des))()nd- 
iuii",  and  without  spiritual  witness,  he  was  comiuir  towards  the 
Liiiht  of  I^ife. 

Charles  stepped  in  before  him.  lie  had  been  in  a  Moravian 
meetin<2'.  "  I  thought  myself  in  a  choii-  of  anirels."  Fallini»"  sick, 
he  was  cared  for  hy  a  ))ious  mechanit',  a  ))lain  man,  named  Bray, 
"who  kiu'W  nothinu'  hut  Christ,  and,  knowinu"  Him,  knew  all 
things."  A  Christian  woman  of  tiie  family  told  him  her  own  e.\- 
jiericnce.  and  encouraged  his  hopes.  One  eveninir,  after  siniiini!" 
with  John  and  others,  he  was  sndvinir  to  sleep  in  thouuht  of  the 
divine  promises,  when  he  heard  a  voice  :  "  In  the  nam'>  of  .Fesu- 
of  Na/areth,  arise  and  l)elieve,  and  thou  shalt  he  healed  of  all 
thine  intirmities."  The  words  went  to  his  heart.  "O  that 
Christ  iroiild  so  sj)eak  to  me  I  "  mus(>d  he.  AN'onderinu"  whence 
had  come  the  voice,  that  ii()«>d  woman  told  him.  "It  was  I,  a 
weak,  sinful  creatui'c.  that  spake,  hut  the  words  were  ChristV. 
He  conunanded  me  to  say  them,  and  so  constrained  me  that  I 
could  not  forbear."  He  sent  for  his  iiood  friend.  Bray.  N  tt 
manv  houi's  after,  \w  savs  :  "  I  now  found  mvself  at  peace  with 
(lod,  and  rejoiced  in  hope  of  lovini:"  Christ.  I  Lireatly  mistrnste(l 
my  own   weakness.      I  saw  that  by   faith  I   stood,  and  faith  kept 


Llj\'  (It  (Jxfot'tl. 


(;3 


cr's  accounts  of 
ith.     lie  studied 

heart  l)Ciran  to 
to  the  forms  of 
luMU  any  more, 
itahlo  to  i)artic- 
ra  with  Woslcv. 
'  ]K'rfoctly  witli 
nd  to  this  Wcs- 
ft,  a  passiuii'  at 
)ravian  doctrine 

the  Word  said, 
ad  and  despond- 
UiT  towards   the 

in   a   ^loraviaii 
I."    Fallinu'  sick, 
n,  named   liray. 
Him,   ki\ew   ail 
liini  her  own  e.\- 
ir.  after  siniiini;' 
thouii'ht   of  the 
>  nam"  of  flesu- 
>e   healed  of  all 
art.       "(J    that 
Inderinir  whence 
ji.   "It  was   I,  a 
were  { 'hrist">. 
ined  ni<'  that   I 
id,   l)ray.      N  it 
llf  a1  ])eace  with 
>ally  mistrusted 
1,  and  faith  kept 


iii(>  fro!M  fallinir,  ihouirh  of  myself  ever  sinkinir  into  sin."  At 
five  o'eloc'k  on  the  third  morning'  td'ter,  .lohn  read:  "There  arc 
•riven  i:i"eat  and  precious  j)romiscs,  even  that  \i\  should  \v:  par- 
takers of  (he  divine  nature,"  and,  "Thou  art  not  far  ♦Vom  the 
Kiiiirdoni  of  (Jod."  In  the  evening',  he  went  to  a  society,  and 
liciird  a  lavnian  read  Luther's  description  of  the  chauire  which  the 
Spirit  works  in  the  heart,  throuirh  tiutli  in  Christ.  "I  felt  my 
heart  >trani!('ly  warmed.  I  felt  that  I  did  trust  in  Christ,  Christ 
alone,  for  salvation:  and  an  assurance^  was  iriven  me  that  He  had 
taken  away  my  sins,  even  mine  I  After  my  return  home,  I  was 
nuu'li  IjuU'etcd  with  temptations,  but  cried  out,  and  they  fled  away. 
Thev  returned  airain  and  aijfain  ;  I  as  often  lifted  up  my  eyes,  and 
He  >ent  me  help  from  His  holy  i)lace.  Now  I  was  always  con- 
(jueror." 

Thus  the  Moravians  directe<l  the  feet  of  both  ^^'esleys  into  the 
way  of  peace.  Their  ajred  mother  "  heartily  Itlcsscd  (iod,  who  had 
])r(tiii:ht  them  to  so  just  a  way  of  thiidciuii-." 

Wesley,  with  a  few  friends,  now  made  a  pilirrimaii'e  of  irrati- 
tude  to  Herndnit,  the  home  of  those  to  whom  he  was  owinii'  so 
nnicii.  On  the  way  they  met  Count  Zinzendorf,  and  took  sweet 
counsel  witli  him  on  experience  and  doctrine.  He  found,  anionic 
pine  forests,  a  town  of  a  hundred  houses  and  six  or  s<'ven  hun- 
dred people.  Their  lives  were  simple  :  even  their  anuisements 
were  religious — music,  marchinii"  and  the  lik(\  AN'esley  says  : 
"Their  convi-rsation  was  in  heaven."  One  spirit  of  meekness  and 
love  seemed  to  animate  all.  He  attended  a  l)urial,  wlu're  the 
father  jiraised  (iod.  "  I  know  that  when  his  body  is  raised,  both 
he  and  I  shall  be  ever  with  the  Lord."  Here,  too,  he  gained  the 
idea  of  rcformini:'  the  Church  of  Hnuland,  bv  foruiiny;  a  litth' 
chunh  of  life  and  warmth  within  it. 

And  now  the  ii'reat  Orator,  the  iifcat  Poet,  and  the  iircat  Or- 
ganizer, each  miirhty  in  Scripture,  irifted  in  uttcranct',  and  ulow- 
iuL''  with  experience,  are  ready  for  their  work. 


i 
I 

I 


)   S! 


'i   '] 


«4 


y/fe  /Sfot'i/  of  M('(lio<llsiii. 


How  itinoi'iiiu'V  l>('<riiii,  i<^  a  nialtcr  as  simple  and  natural  as  flic 
ninnin<:'  of  water  from  a  hill-side.  \>'liile  ^^'esley  liad  heeii  in 
(Tcriiiany,  ("hai'Ies  had  already  Ix-iiim  lelliiii:-  of  his  fresh  and  sat- 
istyin<f  experiences.  Some  eleruymen  approved  of  tiiem,  aiu. 
were  seekinii'  the  like  for  themselves.  Crowds  came  to  hear  him. 
l)ut  h(>  could  I'arely  u'et  a  church  for  his  uatherinii's.  Not  that  hi 
action  was  olfensive  :  it  was  his  maimer,  too  earnest  and  forcible, 
that  was  aimoyinu".  For  this  reason,  ln'  was  ejected  from  the  par- 
ish of  Islinu'tou,  London,  where  he  was  servinu"  as  curate.  lie 
fou:i(l  sympathy,  indeed,  home,  with  certain  small  religious  soci- 
eties, which  had  a  historic  interest.  Not  lonu'  after  the  re-estah- 
lishment  of  the  English  ("hui-ch,  a  few  yeai-s  after  the  death  ot' 
Cromwell,  some  spiritual  meinl)ers  of  the  ("hurch  felt  the  need 
of  mon;  intimate  and  sympathetic  religious  exercises  than  the 
Church  service  offered.  These  formed  themselves  into  small  so- 
cieties, some  of  which  were  survivinu"  in  these  AVesley  days,  and 
felt  some  revival  from  the  intluence  of  the  Moravians.  In  these 
modest  circles,  the  Wesleys  found  lo\'e  and  fellowsljip. 

Wesley  arrived  from  (iermany  on  a  Saturday  niaht.  He  held 
four  ])ul»lic  services  the  next  day.  and  l>y  the  next  Sunday  even- 
ini;  he  had  ludd  thirteen,  "declarinu',  in  my  own  country,  the 
glad  tidings  of  salvation."  These  were  to  all  classes  of  })e()ple, 
in  prison,  in  church,  in  little  circles. 

Thus  l»ei>au,  in  ITHN,  when  A\'esley  was  thirty-five  yeai's  old, 
that  habit  of  daily  ell'ort,  which  he  contimied,  without  interrup- 
tion, until  his  eiiihty-eiiihth  year.  The  first  week  was  the  pal- 
tern  and  samule  of  the  tiftv-two  years  to  follow. 

His  theoloiiical  stock  and  store  was  slender.  He  bcliev(Ml  and 
urjjed  four  things:  1.  That  orthodoxy,  and  even  henevolence, 
may  exist  without  reliirion,  this  latter  beiuii*  inward  riirhteousness, 
attended  and  certified  by  peace  with  (iod,  and  joy  in  the:  Holy 
Ghost.  '1.  That  this  reliirion  can  be  jrained  oidy  throuirh  repent- 
ance towards  God,  and  fiiith  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.       ;{.   That 


JJt't^  lit    (Jxfonl. 


\).t 


1(1  iiiitiiral  as  tlic 
loy  had  Ixtii  in 
ilf*  tVcsli  and  saf- 
'<l  of  tliciu,  anc. 
iiiH'  to  ln'ar  liiiii. 
IS.  Not  that  hi. 
u'st  and  t'oiribh". 
red  from  the  |)ai- 

as  curate.  He 
ill  reliiiious  soei- 
ftcr  the  re-estah- 
'ter  the  death  of 
I'll  felt  the  need 
:ereises  than  the 
cs  into  small  so- 
feslev  days,  and 
vians.      In  these 

■s!ii|). 

liiiht.     lie  held 

;t  Sunday  eveii- 
11  country,   the 

asses  of  people, 

'-five  years  old. 
itliout  interrup- 
elv  was  the  })al- 

(>  hclieved  and 
•11  henevolence, 
d  riirhteou.siioss, 
oy  in  the  Holy 
tliroui::li  repent- 
irist.       ;{.   That 


till-  I'liith  in  Clirist.  this  lusarly  surr<'nder  and  unl'aherinu"  trust, 
"taUinii"  («<'<l  !''  1''"^  word,"  Itriiiii's  to  the  soul  acceptaiwc  with 
(iod.  It  is  all  that  man  can  do.  L  The  result  of  this  is  that 
"we  taste  <»f  till'  heaven  to  which  we  are  iroinu"."  are  made  holy 
aiul  liappv,  Ity  a  power  in  us  hut  not  of  us. 

riie>e  tour  points,  in  \\'eslcy's  own  experience,  he  >aw  lapidly 
conlii'iiied  l)V  the  experience  of  many  and  various  ))eople — of' cler- 
o\nit'ii,  and  of  criminals  under  sentence  of  death,  and  of  all 
(rnide>  hetweeii  these  extremes.  Many  cried  that  these  were 
".-.tranire  thinii's." 

\\ Cslev  set  four  tests  for  s(df-examiniilion,  l>y  which  he  was 
ahle  to  forestall  most  of  the  wild,  unreasoning;-  fervor,  which  at 
onc«'  niiiiht  arise:  1.  One  in  the  faith  will  judir»'  himstdf  a 
wretelicd  creature,  whose  righteousness  and  lia})|)iness  must  he  in 
and  iVoin  (iod.  2.  His  (lesions  must  he,  henceforth,  to  serve 
Ciod,  and  regain  his  ima^'i'  and  likeness.  )\.  His  desires  are 
new.  all  set  on  heavenly  iliiiiiis.  4.  His  behavior,  in  word  and 
act.  i>  for  the  diviiK^  irlory,  and  for  flu^  irood  of  man. 

'i'lius  simi)ly  did  ^^'esley  throw  out  his  ireneralities  of  doctrine. 
He  had.  in  his  preachiiiir,  little  occasion  to  defend  them  :  his  task 
was  to  enforce  them.  As  Fellow  of  Lincoln  ('olle<re,  he  was  "to 
uphold  the  Catholic  faith."  He  now  hidieved.  both  from  his  own 
experience,  and  what  he  -was  at  once  seeinif  amoiiir  those  to  whom 
he  >poke.  that  these  four  points  are  the  uisf  of  the  true  I'niversal 
(i.  ('..Catholic)  Faith.  He  was  surprised  to  see  the  immediate 
triiiniplis  of  faith,  as  1h>  exjjlained  and  ui'u'ed  it,  over  sin  and 
death.  On  his  first  week  of  preachinu',  a  man  under  sentence  of 
death  suddenly  raised  his  sfreaminu-  eyes  to  the  sky.  "  How  do 
you  feel  now?"  asked  Wesley.  "I  fi-el  a  peace  which  I  could  not 
have  lielieved  possible,  and  I  know  it  is  the  peace  of  (Jod,  which 
passeth  all  uiuhM'standiiiir."  In  a  few  minutes  the  haniiinan  had 
done  his  work,  but  the  soul  had  iione  in  peace  I  No  wonder  the 
brothers  felt  sfrouii'  and  sti-ouo-er  I 


ct; 


Tilt'  ,'^lorij  of  Altdi'idixiii 


f!      i 


l' 

\ 


i.    I 


n  i 


V 


|)  IE 


True  ( 'liurcliincu.  :is  «'v('r,  tlicy  conferred  willi  the  Arelibishop 
of  (  iiuterhiiry.  and  the  liishoi)  of  London,  reeeiviuir  luoderale  aj,- 
l)roval.  and  even  fair  adviec.  Still.  Ilu;  ])ari>li  j>riests  would  not 
ot't<'n  admit  them  to  their  churches.  They  labored  in  the  socie- 
ties, in  tlu^  i)risons,  and  in  the  neiirhhorlm.''  lountry. 

Now.  after  a  year's  absence.  AN'hitctield  appears  siir<'iii>.  II'' 
was  the  very  man  whoso  power  was  to  break  tlu;  barrier  that 


TUB    FIIlsT    I.OVK    FEAST,   JANUAHr   5,    XTA'i. 

now  limited  tiie  work.      Not  u  church  Mas  open  to  him.  where  ln' 
had  >o  lately  l»een  welcome. 

January  1.  17.'>!l,  wa>  the  tirst  watch-niirht  in  ^lethodism. 
M'hitelield  and  the  A''"sl<'ys.  with  some  sixty  brethren,  wer«'  al 
love-feast  in  l-'etterlane.  As  they  were  in  prayer,  at  three  in  the 
morninii".  such  power  tVom  «tn  hii>h  came  upon  them  that  many 
t'ell  to  the  iiroimd  :  others  shouted  for  joy.  Liki^  the  Apostles  at 
Pentecost,  they  countecl  this  a   sure  token   ot'  the  divine   a|ipro\.;l 


T/Z/e  ot   O.ijhril. 


67 


lie   .Vi'flil)isli()]) 

If  inodtTiitc,  iiji- 

icsts  would  nut 

(I  ill  the   socit- 

y. 

ii's   aiTiii"-      ^^'' 

li(!   l):in'i('r  lli:it 


liiin,  wIh'I'c  111' 

ill  ^Ictliodisiii. 
■t'tlircil,  were  ;it 
!it  tlircc  ill  till' 
u'lii  llial  iiiaiiy 
llic!  Ajiostlcs  Ml 
liviiH'   approN .;] 


of  tlu'ii"  oll'orts.  Then  <nnf  f/tcrp  did  ^f^'f/totIi.'<m  t  nil  if  hpijm,  and 
that  (lav  is  its  oixH'h.  On  .lannary  '),  the  first  "  Love  feast" 
was  held  at  Islijiirton.  These  three  evanjfelists  "  eonterred  "  with 
otiicr  men — seven  in  all — upon  matters  of  importanee,  and,  after 
fastinir"  and  prayer,  a  deep  conviction  of  their  callin<r  and  a 
deep  sense  of  power  were  <riven  them.  They  closed  "  with  a  full 
conviction  that  (rod  was  about  to  <h)  <rreat  things  amoiiir  us."  The 
conviction  came  amply  true. 

Henceforth,  the  stor}'  of  Methodism,  for  more  than  half  a  cen- 
tnrv,  is  told  hy  Wesley  himself,  in  a  journal,  where  everything  is 
put  down  at  once  nj)on  its  occurrence.  Methodism  is  already  in- 
auiiurated,  and  a  conference  has  been  held.  Now  opens  the  next 
feature  of  the  movement. 

Whiteticld  was  allowed  to  preach  in  a  London  church.  A 
thousand  stood  outside,  and  hundreds  went  away  for  laclc  of 
etanding-room.  As  he  proceeded,  "with  great  freedom  of  heart 
and  clearness  of  voice,"  he  thought,  "Why  not  speak  as  Christ 
did,  in  the  open  air?"  Some  friends  counted  it  wild.  II(^  took 
it  to  his  Master,  in  prayer.  "Hear  and  answer,  O  Lord,  tor  Thy 
name's  sake  I "  He  went  to  Jiristol,  and  soon  not  only  its 
churches,  but  even  its  prisons,  were  closed  against  him.  Near  l)y 
is  Kingswood,  a  royal  forest  once,  then  a  range  of  coal  mines, 
with  a  ]ieople  heathenish  in  speech  and  manners — the  lowest  of 
Englishmen.  There  was  no  church  to  ask  for.  AVhitetield  felt 
his  prayer  answered,  and  his  occasion  present.  On  Saturday, 
Februrary  17,  17H1),  he  stood  on  a  high  ground,  and  told  two 
hundred  colliers  Avliat  thev  had  never  heard  before.  He  tliou<rht 
of  his  Master,  His  pulpit  a  mountain,  and  His  sounding-board 
the  dome  of  the  sky.  "  Blessed  be  Clod  I  T  have  taken  the  field. 
Is  there  not  a  cause  ?  Pulpits  are  denied,  and  the  poor  colliers 
are  ready  to  perish." 

From  two   hundred,  his  audiences  grew  to  twenty  thousand. 
The  scene  was  inspiring,  and  his  wondrous  gifts  cam©  into  their 


68 


Tlte  ySfory  of  Mt'tl(odis}n. 


n 


fi. 


I  ' 


jt 


fuUiK'ss  of  action.  All  stood  in  Itrcjillilcss  silence,  "  in  an  awtul 
manner,  lillini:'  nie  with  holy  admiration."  His  niarvelons  voii c 
reached  every  one.  As  he  went  on,  tears  made  white  i:iittei> 
down  their  coal-stained  cheeks.  ^^'ide  as  his  own  nature  wa^. 
and  heaven-mounting  his  soul,  he  was  sometimes  nearly  over- 
j)owered.  "  Hut  I  was  never  deserted  :  I  was  stranirely  assisted.' 
As  the  winter  evoniniis  drew  on,  and  over  the  tlelds,  beneath  the 
solenui  shy,  were  thousands  beyond  thousands  "at  tiuK's  all 
atl'ccted  and  drenched  in  tears  together."  Jiut  "it  (juite  over- 
came nie."  Jle  then  ventured  upon  the  bowlinu-urcen,  in  liri>- 
tol. 

He  needed  liolp,  and  Wesley  came  in  the  end  of  April.  Tlu' 
latter  shraidc  from  "this  strauiic  way."  "  Havini:'  been  all  my  life 
8()  tenacious  of  decency  and  order  that  I  should  have  thought  the 
saving  of  souls  almost  a  sin  if  it  liad  not  been  done  in  a  church." 
On  Monday,  May  2,  he  made  his  iirst  open-air  discourse,  from 
''The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  is  upon  me."  etc.  He  felt  himself  di- 
vinely endorsed.  He  was  soon  pi-caching  in  Kingswood,  to  live 
thousand.  "  If  any  man  thirst,  let  him  come  unto  me  and  drink." 
The  new  stej)  was  taken.  The  (iospel,  that  had  been  iioused  in 
England  for  twidve  hundred  yeai's,  was  now  utt(>red  in  the  fre^li 
air.  To  us,  living  a  hundred  and  lifty  years  after  the  event,  and 
familiar  with  such  i)reaching,  its  importance  is  not  readily  appic- 
ciated,  ^^'esU'y  saw  the  need,  and  the  opening,  and  henceforth 
the  ^^'ord  was  not  Itound  l)v  the  will  of  ])arish  priests. 

Whitetield  now  ])assed  on  into  A\'ales.  There  was  need,  for  llic 
Welsh,  now  the  most  religious  of  the  IJritish  Emi)ir(>,  with  ii 
church  to  every  three  s(|uare  miles,  mountains  and  all,  were  then 
in  a  sad  condition.  Wesley  found  them  "as  littl(>  versed  in  the 
])rinci))les  of  Christianity  as  a  ("reek  or  Cherokee  Indian." 
Methodism  wroujiht  the  change.  (Jritlith  .lones,  a  cleriivman  dt 
the  Church,  but,  like  Wesley,  a  Methodist,  was  not  oidy  preach- 
ing with   his  might,    but    was   employing  traveling  teachers    el' 


L!f(i  at   Oxforil. 


m 


'0,  "  in  an  awful 
marvelous  voiic 
(•  white  irutters 
fwn  nature  wa^. 
es  nearly  ovei'- 
iinirely  assisted. " 
'Ids,  beneath  tlic 
s  "at  times  all 
"  it  (juite  over- 
••-green,  in  liri>- 

of  April.      The 
<:  been  all  my  litV 
lave  thought   the 
oni'  in  a  ehureh." 
•  diseourse,  tVoiii 
'  I'elt   himself  <li- 
nuswood,  to  live 
me  and  drink." 
teen  housed   in 
i'd  in  the  fresh 
the  event,  ami 
readily  appic- 
and  henoefortli 
ests. 

as  need,  for  the 
Kmpire,  with  a 
d  all,  were  then 
1(>  versed  in  the 
'rokee  Indian."' 
a  clergyman  ot 
jol  only  ])roaeli- 
iuii'  teachers    of 


Scripture,  catechism  and  song.  These  went  through  the  region, 
and  when  ^^'hitelield  came,  he  found  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
<^iolit  (it"  their  schools  where  these  salutary  exercises  were  had 
in  the  musical  language  of  Wales.  .lones  lived  to  see  the  work 
(»f  the    new    evangelists    take    deei),    ellectual    hold,    in    his    dear 

h.nd. 

Howell  Harris,  also  a  Churchman,  was  at  this  time  forming 
''societies,"  such  as  Wesle}'  had  found  in  London.  They  were  to 
promote  pii'ty  within  the  Church  (where  all  the  people  were  as- 
sumed to  be).  The}'  resulted  in  such  growth  of  Dis.sent,  that  to- 
dav,  as  a  sami)le,  the  r(!store(l  Cathedral  of  Truio,  which  can 
liold  all  the  wor.shiper.s  of  the  town,  is  nearly  empty,  and  the 
chapels  take  the  jjcople.  Harris  and  Whitetield  met  at  Cardilf, 
and  tliev  held  meetings  together.  "They  set  the  whole  i)rincipal- 
itv  in  a  bla/e."  Whitetield  says  of  Harris  :  "There  seems  ti 
n(tlilc  si)irit  gone  out  into  Wales."  The  Welsh  temperament  re- 
sponded to  th<^  call  of  thes(^  kindred  souls.  Khxjueiu'e  and  song 
had  of  old  their  home  in  Wales,  and  the  land  of  the  Lli'wellyns 
furnished  many  laborers,  gifted  with  genius  for  coiu'cption  and 
utterance  as  well  as  with  the  Christian  graces. 

Whitetield  liad,  in  Wak>s,  heroic  experiences  of  opposition  and 
victory. 

Kctuinlng  to  London,  he  was  exchuh'd  from  all  the  cluirehes. 
He  I'csolved  to  ])reach  at  Moortields,  a  large  connnon,  where,  on 
Sundav,  the  rabbU^  of  the  city  were  wont  to  congr(>gate.  He 
made  his  way  to  the  tenter  of  the  ti(dds  ;  a  table  on  which  he  was 
to  stiuid  was  crushed,  but  tinally,  from  a  w.dl,  he  bi-wught  the 
noisy  thousands  into  order  as  (hn'orous  as  in  a  church.  ''(iod 
.strengthen.' me  exceedingly  ;  I  preach  until  I  sweat  through  and 
through."  That  same  evening,  he  pn>ached  on  Kensington  com- 
mon. His  voice  was  heard  a  mile,  with  no  loss  of  (piality.  Car- 
riages and  hor.senuMi,  with  perhai)s  forty  thousand  })eople  on  foot, 
were  in  his  audience. 


li! 


70 


The   >Slor;f  of  Method  ism. 


\    ^ 


i      (> 


'A     ^ 


I    ^4 


Tho  poor  (lid  as  Franklin  had  done;  thoy  <riivo  their  all. 
Ono  of  his  foUot'tions  contained  ten  thousand  jjieees  of  eoppcr, 
and  ])eople  still  threw  half-pence  into  his  carriage  ! 

Xor  was  AVeslev  idle.  His  personal  gifts  of  oratory  were  not 
equal  to  AVhitetieldV,  hut  they  were  respectable,  and  ho  had 
clearness,  force  and  earnestness,  "the  f|ualities  that  produce  con- 
viction."     His  labors   were   wonderful,   and  displays   of  divine 


WKSI.r.V    A\I>    IlKvr    NASII. 

power  attended  them.  Preaching  in  the  prison,  at  l^ristol,  "men 
<lroppod  on  every  side,  as  thunderstruck,"  while  Crod  "  l>ore  wit- 
ness to  His  word  "  ;  and  the  convictions  were  so  lasting  that,  the 
next  day,  tho  prison  "rang  with  cries."  lie  exulted  in  these  ex- 
periences. Ono  day,  on  Kose  Green,  the  peo})le  stood  through  a 
tierce  storm,  while  he  discoursed  from  " The  (rod  of  glory  thun- 
dereth." 

.V  fop  of  the  period,  mentioned  by  others  as  a  ruler  in  fashion. 
Beau  Nash,  tried  to  silence  Wesley  before  a  large  congregation 


Lif'i'  (it   O.ifhrd. 


71 


ravo  their  all. 
iH'cs  of  copper, 

I 

itory  were  not 
B,  and  ho  hud 
:t  produce  con- 
days   of  divine 


l^ristol,  "men 

lod  "  l)oro  wit- 

astinir  that,  the 

'd  in  these  ex- 

tood  throuirh  a 

of  glory  thun- 

uler  in  fashion. 


1  congregation 


••  Did  von  ever  hear  me  preach?" 

"No.  1  judu'c  of  you  hy  connnon  report." 

••(iivc  me  leave  lo  ask.  Is  your  name  Nash?" 

■■  My  name  is  Nash." 

"Sir.  I  <lare  nol  judge  of  //'>"  l'.\'  c-onnnon  report." 

N;i-li  was  annoyed,  hut  said  : 

••  WJiy  do  these  people  conu'  here?" 

All  old  woman  answered  : 

"  Voii.  Mr.  Nash,  lake  care  of  your  body  ;  we  take  care  of  the 
l)()dv.  and  llien  come  here  for  the  food  of  our  souls." 

\:i>li  turned  and  retreated  in  silence. 

W'eslev  was  now  preaching  every  day  in  the  w(M'k.  and  four  or 
five  times  on  Sunday.  He  says  :  "  Hitherto  as  my  days,  so  my 
^treiiiith  hath  been," and  such  was  his  testinu)ny  fifty  years  later. 

The  Hristol  "societies"  were  now  many,  and  rooms  adecpiate 
for  their  gathering  could  not  well  he  had.  A  building,  not  a 
cliiiitli.  Iteeame  necessary.  It  was  on  May  12,  17o!»,  that  the 
conier-^tone  was  laid,  at  Uristol,  for  the  P'irst  Methodist  Chapel 
in  tile  world.  It  was  laid  with  the  voice  of  ))raise  and  thanks- 
oiviiiu'.  Its  origin  illustrates  the  simi)le  ])olicy  which  Mr.  Wes- 
lev  adojjted  from  the  beginning,  and  which,  until  his  death,  he 
liiid  no  reason  to  change.  He  says  :  "  I  had  no  design  of  being 
])ers()naliy  engaged  in  the  expense  oi-  the  executior.  of  this  work. 
I  appointed  for  this,  eleven  trustees.  Uut  I  (piiekly  found  my 
mistake.  All  stood  still,  unless  I  paid  the  workmen,  and  I  had 
()uickly  used  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds.  .\s  to  the  direction, 
1  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  AVhitefield,  that  he  and  others  would 
liMve  nothing  to  do  with  the  building,  unless  I  discharged  the 
tru>tees  ;in<l  did  everything  in  my  own  name.  One  reason  which 
they  gave  was  (>nough — that  the  trustees  would  control  me,  and, 
if  they  did  not  like  my  preaching,  could  tiu'u  nu'  out  of  the  room 
which  I  had  l)uilt.  I  accoi'dingly  took  the  mattei-  into  my  own 
hands,  none  o})posing."      Thus   began  his  system  of  ownership, 


72  Th*-   Sfnr;/  <>/  MHhoilli*iii. 

\<y  wliicli  lie  licciiinc  Imildci"  and  pi'oprictctr  ot"  .*ill  tlio  "jJiTiicliiiiL: 
houses. "  "  Cluipcl,"'  !i  woi'd  roi'iiu'i'ly  npplicd  to  houses  erecteil 
lor  pul)li('  \vorshi|)  l>ul  uot  huN  iiiu'  the  full  chiiriieter  of  .*i  chureli. 
usually  iuteuded  for  Ihe  eonvenieuce  of  those  reuiot(^  from 
chui'ches,  was  the  term  <:radually  eomiMii'  into  use  to  desiii'uatr 
tiiese  huiidinu's.  It  marked  their  coiiveuieui'e.  and,  also,  what 
was  at  lirst  true,  that  they  were  not  eouseerated  ;  that  tlu^  saera- 
uiciit,  espeeially  of  haiitisui,  was  uot  adniiuistered  in  them.  In 
our  day,  "chapel  "  aud  '"church""  are  often  used   iuterchaniii'aldy. 

It  was,  at  tu'st,  needful  to  the  unity  and  stability  of  his  work 
that  all  its  })roj)erty,  as  well  as  all  other  responsiijjlity,  should 
center  in  him.  His  lenal  title  was  always  uplndd  ))y  the  Courts, 
and  in  due  time  he  transferred  all  the  proi)erties  to  the  "  LeL'al 
Hundred,"  who  conijjosed  the  "  Confeivnce."' 

1  7."»l>,  tho  birth-year  of  .Methodism  as  a  distinct  and  workiiiir  de- 
vel()j)mpnt  of  Christianity,  was  a  year  of  luany  wonders.  C)f  these, 
the  most  iiotaldci  were  the  physit-al  ell'eets  attendiui:'  the  spiritual 
excitements  caused  by  the  preachinii'.  It  was  not  the  marvelous 
eUxiuence  of  AN'hitetield,  so  nuu-h  as  the  calm,  cool  loiiic  of  Wes- 
le\'.  und(U'  which  these  occui'red.  Not  merely  the  weak  and  seusj- 
tiye,  Imt  as  much,  and  eyiMi  more,  the  strouir  and  hai'dened  went 
down  like  men  in  battle.  Youiiii"  women,  listcniuii"  attentively, 
bold  blasphemers,  were  struck,  aud  fell  iu  anony.  Scores  would  lie 
as  if  dead.  A  passiuu'  traveler  paused  to  hear  a  few  words,  and. 
fallinii'.  lay  us  if  lif(dess.  A  sober  (Quaker,  who  was  admouishjni'' 
aL^ainst  such  "  irregularities. ""  t"ell  with  the  repi'oofs  (»ii  his  lip>. 
A  weaver  (U'noimced  the  whole  thinii'.  A  convei't  li'ave  him  one 
of  )\'esley"s  sermons.  In  readinu'  it,  he  "roared  miiihtily,"'  and 
fell  to  the  llo(»r.  Tlu're  his  tViends  found  him.  sweat  inn',  weepini: 
and  screaminii'.  Those  who  believed  that  these  excitements, 
thouiih  sincere,  miii'hl  be  controlled,  fell  in  the  mi<lst  <»f  their  re- 
monstrances. In  fluly,  of  this  yeai".  ^^'hiteiiel(l,  ))reachini2',  with 
"Wesley  at   his  side,  had   his   first   experience  of  this   demonsti'a- 


Ct 


up'   (if    O.ifnnl. 


73 


llip  "  pi'cMcliinL: 

liouscs  crcctccl 

vY  of  M  clmrcli. 

I'('lll(>t(^     tVoiii 
SC  ((»     (ll'siiillMtr 

iiiul,  also,  wliat 
that  the  sacra- 
l  ill  ihciii.  Ill 
iit('i'<.'haiii:c'al>l\ . 
\\y  of  his  work 
isiliility,  should 
liy  the  Courts, 
.  to  the  "  Le<:iil 

iiid  workiiiiT  de- 
dors.    C)f these. 
Uii'  the  spiritual 
t  the  marvelous 
I  loii'ie  of  Wes- 
weaU  and  seiisi- 
hardeiied  went 
1I12'  at1eiitivel\ . 
H'ores  would  lie 
e\v  words,  and. 
as  adiiioiiishiiii:' 
)fs  oil  his  lips, 
il'ave  him  one 
minhtily,"  and 
■atiiiii".  weepiiiL^ 
e    excitements. 
1st  of  their  re- 
tread I  iiii>\  with 
his   demonstra- 


X\u\\.  At  hi-  lirst  words,  four  persons  fell.  Whitelield  had  re- 
coiled from  >iich  >ceiie>,  liiil  now  tluv  ai^reed  that  "we  will  suller 
(1(1(1  to  cMiiy  on  lii>  own  work,  in  the  way  that  pleaseth  llini." 
M()>t  of  tliox'  all'ccled  in  this  way  came  to  peace  in  helieviiii:', 
I)  hut  Wesley,  afterwards,  counted  them  as  no  proof  of  saviiiu" 
power.  Ih'  discourau'cd  them,  thouii'li  tenderly  and  wisely,  while 
Charles  uave  them  no  countenance.  Tiiey  miiilit  accompany  a 
o-eiiuinc  operation  of  the  heavenly  urace — and  they  miirht  not. 

JJB  The  new  departure  was  now  an  accomplished  fact.  Samuel 
■\Veslev  disliked  the  outward  accompaniments  of  his  hrother's 
prcachiiiii'.  He  even  denied  that  jiardon  of  sin  could  he  surely 
known,  in  fact,  he  staid  l>y  the  faith  of  his  ancient  family,  the 
faith,  really,  of  the  hest  part  of  the  nation  at  the  time,  while  his 
A'ouniicr  hrother  revived,  in  freshness  and  [lower,  the  faith  of 
Paul.  A  hrief  ar<:ument  was  held  between  them.  Neither  sur- 
rendered, hut  Samuel,  at  last,  wrote  tenderly:  "Finally,  breth- 
ren, pray  ye  for  us  both,  that  the  word  of  \\\v  Lord  may  have 
free  course  and  he  aloritied,''  as,  with  his  brothers,  it  ami)ly  was. 
The  venerable  mother,  now  residiiiii'  with  Saimud,  at  ^^'estmin- 
ster,  was  present  at  what  Samuel  called ''.lack's  conuregations." 
She  remembered  that  her  father  had  not,  for  forty  years,  doubted 
the  jtardon  of  his  own  sins,  yet  had  never  preached  of  such  ex- 
perience. She  had  thought  such  minht  be  tlu^  privileuos  of  u 
favored  few.  She  now,  in  the  very  act  of  taking'  the  cujiof  Sac- 
rament. /'-//  the  sense  of  jiardoii.  Her  son's  doctrine  was  lieiice- 
forlli  to  her  the  soul  of  truth,  and  she  heartily  approved  of  his 
course,  as  reasonable  and  necessary.  In  some  thiniis.  as  in  the 
usiiiii'  of  lay  [ireachers,  she  was  in  advance  of  him.  Her  home 
was.  hereafter,  at  his  house  in  the  Foundry. 

•^  This  was  a  half-ruined  buildini:-.  in  Moortields,  which  the  Gov- 
ernnient  had  once  used  for  the  eastinu'  of  cannon.  Two  straiiizers 
asked  Wesley  to  jireach  in  it,  and  aided  him  in  tittini:'  it  for  re*;- 
ular  worship.      On  Xovember   11,  I7;)li,  it    was  opened  for  ser- 


$ 


74 


Tin:  k>li)ri/  of  Mt(hoi.lintn, 


I    1^ 


*    \ 


vice.  Tlu'  r<)ini(liv  \v!is  lluTt'iiftcr  the  li(')i(l(|Uiir1('is  ot'  Mt'tliod- 
isin  ill  Loiuldii.  'I'lii,>  llr>f  service  in  it  lias  lu'cn  assuiiu'd  as  the 
Iriic  l^pdili  of  MctlKMlisiii,  and,  on  the  same  day  of  our  eeiituiv . 
Illc  ( 'cnteliliiMl  of  Methodism  was  observed.  \\'<'sley  was  fond  of 
datiiii:'  from  the  formini:'  of  the  Holy  Clul),  ten  years  earliei'. 
Yet,  his  own  statement  is  satist'actory .  "  Soon  after  the  eonseeni- 
lion  of  the  Foundry,  in  the  latter  end  of  the  year  17;H>,  eiuht  or 
ten  persons  came  to  me   in    London,  and   desired  that  I   would 


■hk 


oi.K  rorvTMtY  (  iirucii,  Loximv. 
spend  some  time  with  them  in  prayer,  and  advise  Ihem  how  to 
llee  from  the  wrath  t(»  come.  'Phis  was  the  lise  of  tlu^  Ignited  Sn- 
ci(!ty."  The  eveniiii:'  set  was  Thursday,  already  lialf->acred  at 
K|)Worth,  and  so  held  hy  the  Methodists  loni:'  afterwards  for  xi- 
cial  worship. 

A\'ith  the  Moravians  in  Fetterlane.  AVesley  was  iidtinii'  out  of 
Sivmi)athv.  Tlie\'  were  heconiim:-  (Juielists.  holding' "true  still- 
ness"'  to  he  the  hii:hest  reliu'ioiis  attainment — almost  like  the  Nil- 


\  \  ■ 


Llff  (it  Oxfoi'il. 


tcrs  of  Mctlidd- 
assuiiH'd  as  the 
v)t'  our  ci'iiliin  . 
sh'V  was  I'oiid  (if 
n  vcars  t'arlici'. 
icr  llic  consccra- 
r  1 7;>II,  ciulit  (ir 
'd   that  I    would 


M'  tlu'Ui  how  to 
tlu'.  United  So- 
liall-sacrcd  at 
crwards  lor  m)- 

■;  ucttiiiii'  out  of 
liuu"  "  ti'Ui'  slill- 
■  )st  like  the  N'n- 


waiif.  "  iiitiiilte  sli'op,"  of  th»'  nrahiniiis.  Tht-v  cvi'U  discarded 
the  ('hi'i>tiaii  ministry  and  ordinances.  Tht-se  erro.s  were  tfan- 
sicnl.  and  Zin/endoii'  himself  came  to  Lon(h>n  to  correct  theni, 
Itul.  iiicanwhiU'.  Wi'sh'V  had  left  them.  "  I  h)ni:-  to  he  with  them. 
Vet  I  am  kept  from  them."  His  reason  controlled  his  atlection. 
thoui:h  Charles  would  still  have  i-emained  with  lln-m,  a  Mora- 
viiiii.  and  not  a  .Methodist,  had  not  his  lirother  and  his  friends 
made  vigorous  remonstrance.  July  2^),  1740,  marks  the  separa- 
tion of  Wesley  from  his  Gorman  hrethren.  It  was  done  with 
love  and  rej^ret.  The  cart^er  now  ()penin<r  hetore  him  was  such 
as  ((add  not  he  hindered  l>y  alliances.  It  was  peculiar;  it  must 
fi'eeh'  adapt  itself  to  its  new  conditions,  and  the  past  must  hury 
\\>  dt'a<l. 

In  this  yeai'  (tf  IT^J!*,  came  into  l>ein_ii"  the  "  Hands."  These 
AVere  companies  ot'  converted  men,  set  to  watch  o\'er  and  help 
each  other,  which  as  "Classes."  a  niodilied  form,  exist  in  all 
jMellio<li>in.  A  force,  felt  from  the  hciiimiinii"  of  the  movement, 
now  look  delinile  form.  We  saw  how  poetry  and  nmsic  throve 
in  the  dear  home  at  Kpworlh.  Both  .lohn  and  Charles  wcic  poets 
and  >iiii:i'r>.  yet  Charles  had  the  fuller  endowment .  lie  is.  as  wt' 
m:iy  >ee.  the  prince  ot"  sacred  lyrists  in  our  Knulish  lanuuanfe. 
Soon  alter  their  return  from  (Jeoruia,  the  \\'esleys  puhlished 
hymn-.  .Now,  in  17.">'.i,  they  put  out  three  volumes  of '' Hymns 
and  Sacii'd  Poems."  Like  their  preachinii',  their  hymns  were  in 
soaxtn.  The  hearts  of  the  people  huniicred  for  them,  and  they 
went  in  a   Ida/.e  of  p()))ularity. 

"  "Listed  into  tiie  cause  of  sin, 
Why  shall  a  good  be  evil  ? 
Sure,  nmsic  Ion','-  enough  has  been 
Conipaniou  of  the  devil  I  " 

So  thouiilit  Charles,  and  it  was  his  hapjn'  liift  that  he  wrote  the 

•finest  of  poems  in  a  stvle  >o  imniediat(dv  availahle  that  thev   rose 

upon  the  air  while  the  ink  was  hardlv  drv,  and,  after  a  centiu'v 


HSH 


7»; 


riic  fS/i)ii/  iif  ^ii iIkki isiii . 


I  » 


.'111(1  M  lijiir,  :in'  -mill"  in  every  \:\\\i\  mikI  iii(»->t  ol"  the  l;iiiL''niii:"es  ot 
llie  world.  The  \\'e>h'y:m  hyiiiii-.  in  the  eh;i|)els,  >er\«'(l  !i>  the 
Litiiriiv  ill  the  churches.  'I'hey  were  re.-id  one  line  :it  :i  time,  or 
the  ver>e  \\;is  "  lilie<|,"  ;in<l  the  peoph'  were  e\horte(l  to  ^iiiM-  "  lii>. 
tily,"  11 -i  111;'  "tlie  teiior  only  "" — i.  e..  the  sopiMiio.  The  "  tenor"  w:i- 
iiiade  >iiii|)le.  The  iilory  of"  the  iiiu>ic  \s:is  to  l»t  in  the  jill'ection^ 
which  it  conveyed,  :ind  not  in  its"It:ili.iii  trills."' 

Thus  Clinic  an  era  in  church  inusic.  These  liturgical  liyuiii"- 
held  the  e^-eiice  ol"  seniioiis,  t raiisliiiured  l»y  the  |ioet'>  iliiaiiiu:!- 
tioii,  and  Lilowiiiii"  with  his  heart's  aU'ections.  They  prepared  the 
coni!rei!alioii  lor  the  iiix-oiii'-e,  to  receive  it  in  warmth  o\'  sym- 
pathy and  lively  i  nerii'v  of  nnderstandiui:'.  In  no  other  way  could 
the  poor,  the  weary  and  the  ignorant  have  l)een  roused  and  re- 
taiiied,  heartened  and  ins]>ii'cd.  Three  editions  ol'  these  hymn- 
were  at  (»nce  printed,  and  their  circulation  and  !ise  was  wonch'i- 
t'lil.  ( 'harles  was  not  strictly  an  extempori/er  in  poetry,  l»ut  he 
WIS  as  marly  so  as  his  coteniporary,  Kohert  liiii'iis.  livery  even!, 
many  a  minor  incident,  l>ecaiiie  a  theme  ot'  saiwd  sonii',  and  wa-* 
cauiiht  !»y  the  people  while  sparUliiii:-  with  the  dews  of  its  niorn- 
iuii".  livery  phase  of  Christian  expericM'-e — its  i^loom,  its  striii:- 
i:le,  i»>  victory,  its  peace,  its  joy — linds  in  a  \\'e>leyan  hymn  >omc 
true  ("astalian,  almost  scraphi*-  utterance.  I*'(M'  this  rca-oii.  while 
at  this  date  the  W'esleyan  >ermons  may  Im-  in  disu>e,  the  llymii-- 
are  ill  all  churches,  and  Christian  hearts  (an  iiexcr  let  them  die. 

( )iie  can  now  sec  what  Methodism  was,  now  that  it  had  fairly 
pas-cd  the  period  ot'  it>  oi-ii;iii.  It  \va>  I  he  re>iill  of  a  series  of  iii'- 
cessilies.  Wc'.lcy  had  fornie(l  no  theory.  Ili^  phili'-,  like  the  l"',li- 
i:li-!i  ( 'oust  itiit  ion,  "were  not  made,  they  iircw."  a-  a  tree  ur"^^- 
fifiiii  the  earth  and  iinfold>  it-elf  in  the  air.  II  >,  with  ('liarli- 
aiid  Whilclield,  could  not  <|o  otherwi-e  than  preach.  The  woiij 
of  the  Lord  w.i>a-a  lire  in  tlnir  l»one-.  Their  endo\' nieiit-  \\<v 
it-  utterance  were  complete,  and  their  duty  wa-a>  clear  as  ihr 
suii  ill  the  hca\('ii-.      W'licii  the  ciiurclic-  weie  -hilt  MLiain-t    thciii. 


I     • 


IJt'r     lit     ( Kihil-il. 


4  < 


('  l:m_L''Wii_i:t's  nt 

,   XTVcd    !is  I  lie 

lie  ;il  :i  t  iliic,  or 
'tl  to  >illl2'  "  lu>- 
lic  "  fciKtr"  Wil- 
li tlif  allV'c'tion- 

liiriiical  liynin>- 
)'»('l'-«    iiiiaiiiii!!- 
•y  pi'cpai'i'd  till- 
raiiutli  of  syiii- 
)lli('i'  way  coiiM 
roused  and  n- 
il'  these  liyiiiii- 
se  was  wonder- 
poetry,  l»iit    lit> 
livery  event, 
soiiLi',  and  WM-i 
s  of  its  uioni- 

•  Olll.     its     Stl'llii- 

an  liyinn  some 
<  rea-on,  wliilr 
e.  tlie    I  lyilili-^ 
et   tlieiii  (lie. 

I  it  had  fairly 
I  x'lies  of  IH'- 
,  like  the  l'",li- 

-  a  tree  ;:ro\\ - 
,  w  itii   ( 'harlr- 

II  The  woiil 
idiH'  iiieiit--  I'liT 
1^   clear  a-   lln' 

auaiii-t    tliciii. 


what    el>e   roll!  I    they  (h)  liiit    pl'eaeh  ill    the    liehU?      ^^'hen  "  (•oii- 

veilcd    111(11  "  ~oUi:ht    \\'esley'>   eare  and   i^iiidaiiee,  what  could   he 

(1(1  liiit    p!'o\i<le  houses  tor  their  nieeti  iii's  and  rules  for  their  as>o- 

fiaiion'     lie  took   no  >tep  foi'ward  until   necessity  eonipelled   it; 

11(1  -icp  liackuard  di<l  he  ever  take.      Nothinu"  dim  and  distant   af- 

feeleil  iiiiii  :   he  eare(|  only  tor  what  lay  elo>e  ahout  his  feet.      'I'lie 

future,  willi  him.  hore  it^  own  burdens,  which  he  did  not  eai'e   to 

fore-ee.     Soiitliey  says,  that    when  .Methodi>m   was  now   enteiiiiii- 

its  I  arecr.  like  a  >hip  upon   unknown  seas,  Wesley   did  not    know 

to  what  hi>  plan>  were  leadiiii:'.  what    institute  his  societies  niii:ht 

^'Vet  foiiii.  what    men    would   rise   to  help   him,  or   what    I'esoui-ces 

would  -npply  hi>  needs,      lie  (Uily  knew  that  the  mist  of  the  fiit- 

Rire   vMnild    lift   and    roll  away    in  its   time,  and    that    (Jod's   own 

&Cjui-e  would  not  fail  of  (  mmI's  own  supp«u't.      Lea>t   ot'  all.  did   he 

'■areaiii  of  disloyally  •(>  the  I'Jiiilish  Chui-ch.     All  I'Jii^land  held  no 

man  more   rexci'eiit  of  its  authority  and    order,  tlionuh  the   more 

reveicm  lie  wa>.  the  more  rudely  wa>  he  treated. 


y^^ 


=  !■! 


!      i 

i 

1 

ii 

i 

H 


I      i\ 


■  "'■"'•'■HP  ■  ■..  .^.t     .u... 


.1:  '■■m«t!t;: ,:„.\^;^S'''''"t^ 

•  c"  .    mr;,j;;^:;;,;;;',j':i;"i;::-r-  ::'  • 

'15.  ■  ;■■■  '•■■'"v^lii!''"-'?"-';'"'''^ 

■■•Jil'l$5;H'|;!;|:(;;;|liVi*':,y,.'- 


,  All,*!  '.' 


//A' I        ^»    S., ,,■    ■    , 


'  <l: 


...fw'i-..  .(tWi«..iA»Jii:.M.,.«L..jti.. 


Mili' 


1'^ 


^ 


»^it='':X{^'  ifeii'n'. 


r:      ,;;Mfl|l 


:,    ! 


V 


CIIAITKK'  III. 

^l./  /"       Ileaihniif  of  Mcf/todism. —  ]Milt('fielits 

— ^^■^"■^■■^^^^^^^^OAV  the  lalxii's  ol'   W('sl(>v,    liavin<r 

ji  (Ict'mitc  (•Ciller  ;iii(l  <»iitliiH',   bc- 
ciinM'    more    circcHial     tliaii    ever. 
He  went  far  and  wide,  pfcacliiiiii' daily, 
and    oil  Sunday,    usually.   Tour  limes. 
M()l»s   wi'i'Ci  always  assailiiiu"  liiin,   but 
they  usually  soricncd  dctun  lo  (|ui('t  at- 
tt'iition:  the  loiulcst   aiul  most  violent 
lu'ouii'lil   to  tears,  re))eMtanee  and  con- 
version.     No    ])ook    smaller    tlian    Wesley's    own 
If'^     journal  could  iiive  the  continuous  ))erils  and   vic- 
f^ll     tories  that   «ainc  with  the  days.      At    Ueiiircwoiih, 

Jr 

^7]!5^/f      a    mol»   "with    toiiLMi 's    set    on    lire  of  hell,"  pro- 
C(    posed  to  duck   him. 
'''  \^\r\        Carrviui!:    him    lo  the    l)ridiro,    himself    and    his 

/(  lS  v^  '     '  ..." 

i\o^    iK'lper.  Thomas   Maxtield,  siniiinir  all    the  while,  they 
O     loft  him.      lie  sanL^  loud  tiiid  clear: 

"Angel  of  fiod,  wlmte'<T  betide, 
Thy  summons  I  obey." 

Then,  while  hundreds  irsilhenMl  respectfully,  ho  discoursed  from, 
"If  (lod  he  for  us,  who  can  lie  aLMiust  us?"  "  Xovcr  did  I  so 
much  feci  what  1  spoko.  The  word  did  not  return  empty."  IIc^ 
became  used  to  the  warfare.  Nearly  every  <lay  hrou^dit  a  con- 
flict, and  conlliet  meant  victory.  In  1742  he  visited  Epworth, 
after  manv  vears  of  absence.     Tlie  Woslevs  were  L'"ono — onlv  his 


fmi^^^^wmm 


•<ltl 


so 


y/x-    star  If   of'  Mtllidillsn,, 


J  J,, III  inn/  I  if'  MvlliDilisiii. —  W'hlti-jh'hl's    Sijtn  I'litlmi .  ^\ 


C\"  *j 


!-■   43 


^W 


lAriii.n's   i>>Mii. 

\nt    mI)(i\V(m|  K'. 

Ilic  cliurcli.  li' 
cilillii',,  llpdii  lii- 
I'Ll'MtioM    MS.    I     1m- 

))r(';irli«'il  at  tli' 


saiiif  lil.irc.  "tti  :i  va^t  iiiiiltiliKlc,  ,i:at lici'cd  iVoiii  all  part-."  hardly 
ahlf  I"  li'a\('.  altci' three  h(»ui'>'  discourse.  "()  let  none  think  his 
lalioi'  III'  l<'\c  i-  lo-t  lieeanse  the  I'ruit  doe»  not  innnediatelv  ap- 
peal! NearK  forty  years  did  my  lather  lal>or  hei'e — he  saw  little 
iViiil  ol'  hi-  lal>or:   l»ut  now  the  fruit  appeai'ed." 

(  haile-  had.  a  nonu"  olhrr  places,  heen  preachiui:"  at  Newca-tle, 
wlirre  John  had  made  entrance,  "  I  was  sur|)ri>ed.  So  nnn-li 
drunUeune--,  cursinii'  and  swcMrini:',  even  from  the  mouths  ol"  lit- 
tle cliildr*')!,  do  I  rememlier  to  have  hearcl  in  s(»  little  time."  lie 
lici^an  to  >in,i:'.  and  tifteeii  hundi'ed  uatiiei'ed.  At  live,  "  I  never 
!>a\\  so  lariic  a  numher  of  |)e<)ple  t()ir«'tlier.  My  voice  was  stroiiu; 
.and  clear.  \<'t  it  was  not  possihle  for  half  to  hear,  thouiih  I  had 
%  Iheni  all  in  \iew." 

\  i-itini:  the  place,  after  Cliiirles  had  met  with  succes>.  \\'c-lcy 
])ci;an  (it  \\a-  midwinter,  and  in  that  liiirli  latitude!)  to  ])reacli  at 
H\c  in  the  niorninii'.  lie  was  uiatilied  with  the  resnlt>  in  the 
place.  lla\inu  one  pound,  six  shilliniis,  in  hand,  he  Iteiian  the 
la'Lic-i  "  preachiiiii-hou-e "  in  Mniiland.  apparent  ly  the  third  ol 
the  >erie>.  The  entire  cost  was  at  least  seven  hundred  pounds. 
A  (Quaker,  T»h;)  had  hcai'd  ol"  the  work,  w  role  :  "  •'"laend  \\'e>lcy, 
'  I  diiamed  1  >aw  thee  surrounded  with  a  laru'i  tlock  of  sheep, 
which  thou  didst  not  know  what  to  do  with.  My  tii'si  thouuiiit. 
when  I  awdke.  was  of  thy  ll(»ck  at  Newcastle.  I  ha\'e  enclosed 
thee  a  note  for  a  hundred  pounds,  which  may  help  thee  to  pro- 
vide a  house."  \\\  such  supplies  the  huildin;.'"  ro<e.  and  it  was 
called  "  The  (  )rphan  Ilou>e." 

While  ihe  -Iream  Mowed  on.  it  widi'Ued.  Some  del)t>  had  l»eeu 
in.urred  at  lirislol.  Wesley  was  c(»nsult inu'  how  to  pay  tlie-c, 
when  one  -aid  :  "Let  evei'y  luemlier  of  the  Society  pay  a  ))enny 
ii  week,  until  all  are  i)aid."  "lint  maiix'  are  too  poor  lo  do  it." 
"Then  pul  ele\-en  of  the  |)oore-t  with  me.  I  will  call  on  them 
■weekly,  ami.  it"  they  can  uive  nothini;-,  I  will  pay  for  them.  |-!ach 
of  \dn  do  the  same."      It   wa-  done.      The-e  collectoi'-   found  -olUO 


H 


i 


\ 


■I'll 


82 


'Hte  iSfoi'f/  of  Mef/t(/dif<)u. 


H 


*f 


nioinbor.s  who  wcni  lu^liaviiiij:  l)a(lly.  "It  struck  nio  iiiimo<liiitol\ , 
'this  is  the  very  thiiin'  wo  huvci  wantod  so  h)u<^.'"  The  spiritunl 
intorost  was  thou  niado  lh(^  toroiuost.  Tho  collrctors  woro  1(» 
iiiako  wooUly  iii<|uii"v  of  each  oiu!"s  r(!li<rious  wt^llaro,  and  ropoii 
lh(^  saiuo  ;  thou  1o  roooivo  tho  pcMiiiy.     Soon  it  was  arrangcMl  i\n- 


OI,I)   NEW(.A8TLi;    OKI'IIAX   llOI-.Si:. 


thoni  to   in(M>t  Iiiiii — now  caMod  thoir   h'ador.      Thus  arose  th(t 
Chiss,  with  ils  loador  and  wookly  luootinir. 

AVosh'V  was  tohl  of  liis  ))oo))l('  at  Kiugswood  mooting,  and 
spending  tho  night  in  ))rayor  and  pi-aiso,  as  early  Ciiristians  liiid 
done  in  tlioir  Eves,  or  Vigils,  "  I  t-ould  see  no  causo  to  toi- 
l)id  it."  lie  proposed  to  uioot  witli  them  "on  th(>  Friday  uearost 
tho  full  moon,  when  wo  shouM  have  liirlit  :  desiring  that  only  thcv 


u 


I  {mil  inn/  <if  Mifliixllxin. —  W'li  itijithl's    Sc/xtnifioii.  M3 


no  inimo<liiit('l\ , 
The  spirituiil 
lectors  were  t(» 
are,  and  I'epoii 
IS  arramriMl  tor 


m 


"^t 


ff^i 


'bus   arose   tlm 

nieetin<r,  and 
'hi'istians  li.-id 
(•aus(^  to  foi- 
Friday  nearest 
lliat  only  thcv 


Jii^F  f/J-A 


would  nirct  me  there  who  eonhl  do  it  without  prejndiec  to  theni- 
seh<->  inid  tlieir  lm>iness  or  families.  Ahnndanee  ol'  people 
ramc.  and  I  lieiian  preaehin^  l»etween  eii:ht  and  nine.  \\ v  con- 
tinued licNoiid  the  noon  of  niirht,  sinirini:',  prayinii',  and  ))raisinir 
(ind."  'I'lms  was  the  Watehniirht  inlro(hieed  amoiiii-  the  nsa<res 
of  .Methodism. 

'Www  were  tai'cs  ainonir  the  wheat.  To  sepai'ate  tlie  vile  tVoni 
the  i^ood.  NN'esley  detennined  to  talk  in  person,  onee  in  three 
mouths,  with  cverv  mendter  of  the  Societies.  To  those  of  whom 
he  >a\\  no  reason  to  donht,  lie  jrave  a  ticket.  liearini>- the  rt'ceiver's 
name:  as  nuuh  as  to  say,  "  I  Itelieve  the  l>earei-  hereof  to  he  one 
who  feai's  (iod,  and  works  riirhteonsness."' 

Thex'  lii'kets   were   I'enewed    each  (juarter,  and    wei'e,    in  fact, 

letters  of  connnenda- 
tion.  He  was  afraid 
that  his  jM'ople  niiirht 
come  to  think,  "thei'c! 
is  no  work  of  (iod, 
Itnt  anioiin"  them- 
selves," To  prevent 
such  hiiiotry,  he  de- 
voted one  evcninu"  a 
niont  h  to    rea(liii<>: 

what  (iod  W!is  (hdny: 
in  other  lands  and  in 
other  denondnations. 
For  still  closer  nm- 
tnal  (ai'c.  he  ai-ranired  the  Hands  (already  mentioned)  on  a  l)asis 
of  clo>e  sympatiiy  and  coididence.  These  have,  in  later  days, 
dropped  out  of  the  system,  thonnii  ^^'e>ley  >aid.  "  ^^'here  there 
is  no  Itand-meetinu'  there  is  no  .Methodi>m.'"  Thus  Methodism 
was,  iu  Yorkshire,  fully  develo|»ed,  aiul  its  distinctive  features 
appeai'ed. 


M,uv   Hart. 


SPKCIMKN    (IF    l.OVK    l-KASr   TICWK 


i 


>  i 


n 


84 


T/w  A^Vo/'y  o/  M''/Iii)iI!kiii. 


One  st'cs  that  lici'c  is  inon*  woiU  than  one  man  can  do,  aiil 
helpers  \»('r('  ah-cady  in  the  tii'hl.  ('cnnick.  a  layman,  was  set 
over  the  society  at  KinL''s\voo(l,  to  HP'ay  and  to  expound  Scriptuic. 
not  to  ))i-each,  in  Wesley's  absence.  Maxti«'ld  heiran  to  do  tlif 
same,  at  the  Foundry,  in  London.  .John  Nelson,  a  hero,  u;i> 
workinir  as  mason  l>y  <lay,  and  holdinu'  ineetinirs  at  ninfjn. 
'I'lu'  lay  ministry  was  already  at  work,  i)rotectinir  and  enlar<jriiiu 
what  Wesley's  lal)oi-s  had  Ix'L'un.  Harris  was  at  woik  in  Wale-.. 
Taylor,  a  servant  of  the  Karl  of  Ilunlinirton,  em-ouraired  hy  tin- 
Countess,  was  ;iddressin<r  larp'  iratheriuirs  in  the  heart  of  Kii- 
<;land.  Sanuiel  Deacon  went  from  his  hay-tield  t()  li«>ar  the 
|»reachinir,  and  soon  was  himself  a  preacher.  I'hus  Knirland  w;i> 
feelinir  the  stir  of  a  new  evanirelism,  and  Methodism  was  rapidly 
cominir  to  the  form  which  it  has,  in  the  main,  |)reserved. 

Meanwhile,  the  irreat  orator  of  this  wonderful  trio  was  ajrain 
in  America.  Landiiiii'  in  lMiiladeli)hia,  in  Novemher,  ls;j!>,  lie 
stiri'cd  the  city  most  wonderfully.  People  of  all  creeds  crowded 
the  churches,  and,  aftei'  his  depailure,  such  was  the  im))ulse  from 
his  visit  that  for  a  year  |)ul)lic  service  was  ludd  twic(!  daily  ami 
four  times  on  Sunday,  while  tw'nty-si\  societies  held  soci.il 
prayer.  From  the  Market  House,  he  could  be  heai"<l  across  the 
Delaware,  and  the  crews  on  the  river  cauirht  his  words  distinctly. 

(foinir  to  New  "^'ork,  he  st()})i)ed  at  Princeton,  wh(>re  Teimeiit 
and  others  had  heuun  the  education  of  pastors.  Nassau  Hall 
was  a  loi>:  huildini:',  twenty  feet  s(|uare  I  He  was  at  once  in  hearty 
sympathy  with  the  irood  men  toilinu"  in  this  day  of  small  thini:s. 
He  assured  them  that  the  work  was  of  (rod.  and  would  not  conn' 
to  nauirht.  They  uave  him  the  dcirree  of  A.  M.  They  weiv 
aided  with  money  iriv(Mi  hy  Methodists,  and  President  Davies  wiis 
a  coi-j'espondent  and  admirer  of  Wesley.  "  Thouiih  you  and  1 
may  dill'er  in  some  little  thiuirs,  I  have  lony  loved  you  and  your 
brother,  and  wished  and  prayed  for  your  success."  Whiteriel! 
»vas  for  a  week  in  New  York.     Preachinir  to  sailors,  he  introduceil 


y^ 


ilcaihnij  of  Mvfhnillsiii. —  WhihfhliVi'.  Scpnralion,         85 


an  ('.'in  <!<»,  ninl 
lyinaii,  was  set 
oiiiid  Scripture, 
ii'irau  t(t  do  till' 
m,  a  licro,  \v;i> 
inns  at  niuflii. 
I  and  (MilaririiiL; 
kvork  in  \\'al»'>. 
■ouruiTi'd  hy  tin- 
('  licai't  of  Kii- 
Id  to  lioai'  tilt' 
lis  Knirland  \v;i> 
isiu  was  rapidiv 

trio  was  u«jfaiii 

niluT,   l«;i!>,  he 

creeds  crowdctl 

\v  iin])uls(>  tVoiii 

wicc  daily   and 

ics    lu'ld   social 

card  across  tlic 

ords  distinctly. 

where  Tenneiit 

Nassau  Hall 

once  in  iiearty 

t"  small  lhin2>. 

,'()uld  not  com  ' 

I.     They    wcic 

cut  Davies  Wii> 

iirh  you  and  1 

vou  and  your 

•      Whiterielil 


he  intro(Uic 


Cll 


a  .-torni  and  a  shipwreck   so  eU'ectively   that,  at    the  climax,  they 
spraiiir  to  tlu'ir  feet  and  cried,  "  Take  to  the  lon,<r-l>oat  !  "     So  were 

the\  >.v<'p<  !'•"".-  '•>   ''•''  '•'■'»""i^''"  l><»\ver. 

lie  went  to  hisOrphai'  House,  in  (ieoruiii,  hut  soou  returned 
ui)  the  coa>t  to  collect  money  for  its  support.  Ih'  found  the  im- 
nrc»ion.-.  made  l»y  his  i-ecent  visit,  fresh  and  lastinjr.  Already 
new  churches  had  Ix-en  formed,  and  new  hd)orers  rais<'d  up.  Wv- 
tuiniiiir  to  Savaimah,  he  made  y«'t  anotlier  northward  tour,  land- 
iu<'  at  Newport.  All  .N«'w  Kuirland  was  astir.  In  Boston,  the 
Puritan  divines  weleom«>d  him,  and  the  city  was  moved — hiirh  and 
h)W  of  the  people — the  faculty  and  stucU'uts  of  (  and)rid«re,  the 
masses  from  the  country,  all  thronjTiMl  to  hear  him  ;  and  twenty 
thou>an(l  heard  his  t'arewell  discourse,  unih'r  the  trees  of  the 
C'(»nMiion,  where,  nearly  tifty  years  later,  Lee  pn'ached  the  first 
Methodist  sermon  in  lioston  ;  where  Ilastiuirs,  still  later  hy  a 
ceiiiurv.  has  Iteen  tined  and  imprison(>d  for  the  same  simple  act  I 

He  visited  the  i-reat  Kdwards  at  Northampton.  At  New 
Haven  the  (lovernor  heard  him.  and  said,  amid  his  teai-s,  "Thank 
(iod  for  such  i-efi-eshiuirs  on  our  way  to  heaven  I "'  After  a  tour 
of  >eventy-tiv<'  days,  and  a  hundred  and  seventy-tive  stM'mons,  he 
was  airain  in  Savannah,  with  seven  hundred  j)ounds  irathered  for 
his  enterprise.  Never  before,  or  since,  has  mortal  tontjue  so 
stirre(l  the  hearts  of  men  in  America,  and  its  iutluence  was  lon^ 
ltlt_is  still  fell. 

After  a  yeai'  and  a  half,  Whitetiidd  i-eturned  to  Euiiland.  The 
painful  event  now  draws  n(>ar  when  \>'esley  and  W'hitelield,  like 
Paul  and  Harnahas  of  old,  "parted  asunder."  Th(>v  differed  on 
points  of  doctrine  on  which  men  in  the  pi'esent  im|)erfection  of 
their  faculties  can  never  wholly  airree,  and  of  which  we  can 
never  he  too  thasikful  that  they  an^  not  essential  to  salvation. 

On  matters  of  experience  the  ureat  orator  and  the  ii'n'at  or- 
•ranizer  were  of  one  heart  and  mind.  Faith,  pardon,  renewal, 
holiness,  and  the   witness   of  the    Spirit,  these   thiui's  thev  l)()th 


jif 


^" 


8fl 


'/'//f.'   >S/(,ri/  of  Mclhndlsni. 


knew  and  prcnclKMl.  it  wjo  tilings  ImcU  of  ilicsr  llial  Whiti'lirld 
tell  I'utlici'  than  staled.  The  limited  iiatiii'e  of  atoiicinciit,  the 
loic-ordinatioii  that  knows  and  tixi's  the  elect,  the  titial  pJTscvei- 
aiiee  that  i-nsures  salvation,  tlu'se  wei'e  like  an  instinct  with 
Wliit<'tielil.  At  least  his  reasonin<j:  upon  them  was  lo(»se  and 
hasty,  lie  saw  nndtitudes  unsaved  who  wt'i'c,  l>y  nature,  as  i^ood 
as  himsell'.  W'\\\  should  he  have  salvation,  unless  hy  the  special 
jLrrace  of  election?  I  lis  joy  and  hope  was  in  his  tinn  ti'ust  of  lite 
in  heaven.  Mow  could  that  hold  without  linal  |)erseverancey 
Thus  Whitetield's  docti'iiies  wer*'  taken  tVoni  his  feeliuiis.  ( )r 
lo<fic  \w  was  not  a  master. 

Wesley  was  a  loirit'ian.  lie  severely  traced  each  docti'ine  t<t 
its  conse(|iu'nces.  lie  held  that  a  limited  atonement,  makinir  sal- 
vation impossil)le  to  some,  was  grievously  at  \ariance  with  tlu^ 
universal  call  :  that  tinal  pei'severance  washurlfid  to  <;ood  morals. 
Iler«'  is  not  the  place  for  this  (|uestion  of  tin'  aacs,  the  solution  of 
which  is  heyond  mortal  power.  Would  that  all  who  dill'er  niiiilit 
(lill'er  as  these  men  of  (Jod  have  niven  an  example  ! 

W'hitefield  writes  :  "(Jod  himself.  I  lind,  te.-iclu's  my  friends 
(he  doctrine  ol' election.  If  I  mistake  not.  my  dear  and  honored 
Mr.  Wesley  will  he  hereafter  convinced  of  it  also."  \\'esley  re- 
plies :  "When  His  time  is  come,  (Jod  will  do  what  men  cannot — 
make  us  both  of  one  mind."  They  were  always  one  in  heart,  and 
each  took  his  own  way  with  sentiments  ot"  li'ue  and  tender  allec- 
tion  for  the  other.      Their  partini:'  was  not  then  to  he  reiri'etted. 

Durinir  Whitetield's  .New  Knirland  loui",  perhaps  liy  his  visit  to 
the  LH'eat  Kdwai'ds,  his  Calvinism  had  ui'own  strouiicr.  Wesley 
liad,  meanwhile,  heen  ohlio't'd  to  dismiss  (Vnnick  from  Kiuiis- 
wood  for  dissent  from  his  own  views  ot' I'edemption.  This  school 
at  KiuiTswood  W'hitelield  had  heniin,  hut  \\'esley  had  built,  and. 
of  coui'se,  was  controllinii".  lit;  carefully  stated  that  Cennick  was 
dismissed  lor  disorder,  not  foi"  the  pronudiraiion  of  the  (hx-trinc 
of  election,  a   course   incompatible   with  Wesley's   ideas  of  chai- 


M 


I  lead  nil'/  "/"  Ml  th<)(ll.'<iit. —  Wliitcjiihl's   Sepimifl'iii, 


87 


Ihiit  Whitcticid 
iltoMi'incllI,  tile 

tiiiiil  pcrscvcr- 

iiistinct    with 

w'lis   loosr   iind 

nature,  as  •.'■ood 

l>y  tln'  special 
•III  trust  (tf  life 

perseveraiKH'? 

leeliiiiifs.       ( )t' 

leli  doctrine  tn 
nt,  niaUinir  sal- 
iaiice  with  the 
()  <'()()(l  morals, 
the  solution  of 
lo  (lili'er  miiilit 

les  my   friends 
and   IiouohmI 
>\'esley   re- 
men  cannot — 
in  heart,  and 
tendei"  allec- 
>e  reirrett<'(l. 
)V  his  visit   to 
ll'er.       Wesley 
ffom   Kini:s- 
.    This  sehonj 
lad  built,  and. 
t  Ceunick  was 
the  doctrine 
(leas   of  cjiar- 


il\.  " 'riici'c  are  x'veral  predest  inarians  in  our  so<'ietie  hotli  at 
KuiidoM  and  Mristol,  l»nt  1  never  y<'t  put  any  one  out  of  either 
Itccan-e  he  held  that  opinion." 

1)111  \\'e>le\'  was  (»l)lii:«'d,  l)efore  W'liiletleld's  return,  t(»  speak 
icain-"!  the  (  alvinistic  docti'ines.  His  discourst'  on  Free  (Jraci- 
wa-  M'lil  lo  Whilelield,  who  pulilished  a  reply. 

h'elundnL;  to  London,  \\'hitelield  had  a  sad  welcome.  A  letti'r 
of  hi-.  aL'"aii'>l  NN'<'slcy's  views,  had  heen  circulat«'d  at  the  Foun- 
di\  door  It'  lore  service.  \\'esley,  in  the  i\vA<,  before  tin*  eyes  of 
all.  lore  his  copy  to  pieces,  and  the  con^ireiiat ion  did  the  same. 
Still,  there  was  a  hitter  feelinjr  apiinst  W'liitetield.  lie  called  on 
('li!ule>.  and  they  wept  and  pr.Mved  toLM'ther  for  unity.  Vet  he 
tii'inlv  said  that  himself  and  the  \>'<'slevs  were  jji-eachine'  two 
(iospeU.  and  he  i-ould  not  <iive  them  the  riirht-hand  of  fellow- 
-■A  ship,  lie  retracted  his  wish  and  promise  of  peace.  Ilis  irlowiiiii- 
oraloiy  now  served  him  sadly,  and  In'  pr<'ached  against  the  Wes- 
lc\  >  Ity  name,  and  declared  his  own  views  rudely,  even  in  Charles' 
proence.  Wesley  visited  him  many  times,  hut  no  reconciliation 
could  li '  had.  NN'eslcy  alHi'ined  that  the  .Methodists  who  held 
(ieneral  Hedemption  did  not  wish  to  se))arate.  "  ^^'hiteHel(l 
iniiiht  have  lo\  inu'ly  held  pai'ticular  redemption,  and  we,  u'eneral, 
to  the  end  of  our  lives." 

Fioni  a  lake  in  the  liocky  .Mountains  How  two  currents  in  op- 
posite directions.  Fach  waters  its  own  region,  and  at  last  Itotli 
meet  in  the  (Julf.  So  .Methodism,  from  the  Church  of  Enirland, 
in  which  Whitelield  and  the  ^\'esleys  were  priests,  took  its  diver- 
{i'ent  courses.  There  was  as  yet  no  distinct  oi'iranism.  All  that 
could  he  seen  was  the  How  of  a  ireneral  moveiuiMit  "lo  si)read 
Scriptural  holiness  throughout  these  lands." 

It  is  n(»w  ditlicidt  to  tell  the  story  of  Methodism  as  a  unit,  even 
on  Fnulish  soil.  \\v  must  trace  the  two  hranclu's,  tirsl  one  a  lit- 
tle way.  and  then  resumini:'  the  other.  Let  us  foHow  Whiletield. 
His  tViends  rallied  about    iiim,  and   built    iiis   famous  Tabernacle. 


^; 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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► 

Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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jpf! 


Crowds  camo  ;  Harris  oaiiic  from  Wales  to  help  him,  as  did  two 
of  Mr.  Wesley's  former  helpers.  He  and  Wesley  were  soon  in 
I'ordial  feeliiiir,  exehanirinir  })nli)its,  and  all  thiiitrs  fell  out  for  the 
furtherance  of  the  Gospel.  "  .My  l)r()ther  and  I  conferred  with 
him  every  day,"'  writes  Wesley.  "  May  you  In-  hlesse<l  in  l)rin<jj- 
ing  souls  to  Christ  more  and  more  I  "*  wrote  Whitetield  to  Charles. 
"Our  Lord  exeeedinuly  hlesses  us  at  the  Tal»ernaele."'  So  they 
dwelt  In  unity,  and  there  the  hlessiui;  lay  on  them  like  the  dew  of 
Hernion. 

Whitetield  now  entered  upon  three  wonderful  years.  He  had 
no  desire  to  found  a  sect  or  fornudate  a  I'reed.  He  knew  his  own 
streuiith  and  weakness,  and  he  knew  his  own  eallinii'  to  he  as  si 
preacher.  He  was  invited  to  Scotland,  to  receive  instruction  in 
Church  order  and  the  Lea_<rue  and  Covenant,  such  as  "  Knirland 
had  revolted  from."'  He  told  them  that  he  was  busy  with  interests 
more  imi)ortant.  II  •  fo'.'.nd  them  sternly  set  against  his  fellow- 
ship with  the  English  ;^''"h,  ')ut  he  preached  in  many  a  kirk 
"from  two  to  seven  times  a  day,"  and  a  hlessiuii"  was  on  his  la- 
1>ors.  On  a  second  visit,  he  was  fully  a})})reciated.  Arriving  at 
Caml)uslang,  he  i)reached  three  times  on  the  day  of  his  coming, 
the  last  sermon  beini>:  from  nine  in  the  evenini;  until  eleven,  and 
then  another  i)reache(l  until  one  in  the  morning,  while  the  tields 
resounded  all  night  with  ])rayer  and  })raise.  The  })eople  fell  like 
soldiers  in  battle.  Twenty  thousand  and  more  met  for  a  great 
sacrament.  All  day  twenty  clergymen  administered,  while  there 
was  })reaching  to  those  outside  the  sacramental  tents.  At  night, 
Whitetield  sjjoke  to  the  mas'^  for  an  hour  and  a  half  w  ith  marvel- 
ous power.  In  the  morning  he  spoke  to  near  as  many,  while 
thousantls  were  bathed  in  tears :  some  wi'inging  (heir  hands, 
others  almost  swooning,  others  crying  out  and  mourning  over  a 
pierced  Saviour.  "Such  a  universal  stir  1  never  saw  ltefoi-(>." 
There  were  never  many  Methodists,  by  name,  in  Scolhuid,  bul 
the  whole  country  felt  the  spiritual  energy  of  Methodism. 


if'iHl 


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The   liTcatcst   triiinij)li   of  the   (iospcl,  t'roni    W'liitrtiold's   li|)-;, 
was  on  Moorticlds,  nt  \\'liitsiimicU'.     At  tlu^  Mav  holidjivs,  tlieii 
ot'curriiiii'.  "the  devils  licld  their  rendezvous,  and   I  was   resolved 
to  meet  tlieni   in  pitched  battle."     Another   sueh  a   day   has   not 
l)eeii    known    in   all   the  Christian   centuries.     Startinu"  early,  lie 
found,  at  six  o'clock,  ten  thousand  people   waiting'  for  the  sports 
to  begin.     "  I  had  got  the  start  of  the  devil."    lie  drew  the  whole 
nudtitude  around  his  tield-pulpit.      He  again  entered  the  field  at 
noon,  when  thirty  thousand  were  swarming  over  it.      "It  was  in 
full  possession  of  IJeelzebub."     Players,  pu})pet-showmen,  exhib- 
itors of  wild   beasts,  drunnners   and  trumpeters,  were   furiously 
plying  their  vocations.     "(Jreat  is  Diana  of  tlK>.   Ephesians,"  was 
his  text,  and  he  boldly  opened  the  l)attle.     Loudly  and  clearly  he 
told  them  the  stoiy  of  their  sins,  and  called  them  to  the  Saviour. 
The  tight  was  fierce.     ''Stones,  dirt,  rotten  eggs,  dead  cats,  were 
thrown  at   me  I "      "^ly   soul   Mas   among  lions."     lie   was  un- 
daunted, and  the  throng  of  lions  "  v.-ere  turned  into  lambs."     At 
six  he  was  again  upon  the  field.      "  I  came  and  I  saw — but  what ! 
Thousands  and  thousands  more  than  before."      Satan  was  present 
in  hot   wrath.     A   harlecjuin,  })erforming   near   by,  was   deserted 
when  AVhitetield's  l)lack  robes  were  seen.      "1  lifted  up  my  voice 
like  a  trumpet,  and  many   heard  the  joyful  sound."'      Then  the 
wild   crowd   surged   uj),  and  a   comic   performer,  who,  with  the 
rest,  complained  that  the  preacher  was  ruining  Ids   business,  got 
upon   a   man's   shoulder,    and,  coming  near  AVhitetield,  tried  to 
iitrike   him  down  with   a   long,  heavy  whij),  but   tuml)led   down 
with  the  violence  of  his  own  etlbrts.     The  mob  then  induced  a  re- 
cruiting sergeant, with  drumandfife  and  train  of  stragglers,  to  march 
through  the  crowd  before  the  pulpit.     "Make  way  for  the  King's 
officer  I"  cried  "Whitetield  shrewdly.     The  crowd  parted,  and  the 
sergeant  with  his  little  pomp  and  circumstance  marched  through, 
and  the  raidis  closing  l)ehind  him  furnished  an  unl)roken  audience- 
Then   "roariiiii"  like  wiUl  beasts,"  and  forminii'  a  solid  colunui  on 


/III 


Ileadiray  of  ^lethoiUsnt. —  Whitejiehrf^  Si^puru(i<>)i.         !>l 


the  iiiiir<rin  of  the  tickl,  tlicy  proposed  to  swcci)  slrai:i:lil  lln()Ui:h 
and  hear  the  })r('ac'hor  alonir  with  tlicin.  \\\\\\  a  loiiu"  pole  tor  a 
staiulard,  w  ilh  dniin  and  shoutinirs,  on  they  canic.  TIumi,  (I'lar- 
iclinu'  anionu'  tlienisclvcs,  they  dropjx'd  tlio  pole  and  the  head  of 
their  colmnn  incited  away,  many  Joininu'  "the  l)esiei:-e(l  ))arty." 
\\'hen  the  tumult,  like  the  sound  of  many  waters,  drowned  W'hite- 
tield's  N'oiee,  he,  with  those  around  him,  wouhl  sinuuntil  the  host 
was  hushed  to  hear.  So  he  held  his  i>i'oun<l,  now  ))reaehini:\  now 
[jrayinu",  and  now  sinuinu",  until  niaht  came  upon  the  Held.  He 
then  went  to  the  Tal)ernacle,  where  the  voice  of  rejoii-inii;  and 
praise  was  lifted  up  for  the  victory  of  the  day.  A  vii'tory  it  was, 
indeed.  The  vice  and  misery  of  London,  that  seemed  horn  for 
crime,  were  bravely  met  when  in  their  wildest  mood,  and  souls 
were  won  from  their  thrones.  From  persons  that  day  convicte<l 
of  sin,  a  thousand  notes  came  to  him  re(iuestin.u"  ])rayers,  and  of 
tlies(>,  at  on(^  time,  three  hundred  were  taken  into  his  society, 
^huiy  souirht  marriiiiie,  who  had  been  livinu"  together  sinfully, 
and  manv  on  the  road  to  the  irallows  were  turned  to  become  uood 


■itizeuf' 


US 


Uad  as  the  crowd  was,  it  Avas  still  human  and  of  like  passio 
as  those  who  came  to  church.     Throu^li  Whitetiehrs  rare  uifts  as 
a   vehicle,  the   S})irit    .ouched  their  moral   sense.     Stranye   that 


AVhitetields  so  seldom  apnear 


Yet  in  our  dav  these  ma? 


of 


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hed 


hy    many    appliani'( 


ili 


th 


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u'U    uiiKnown,  an( 


1 


S})urireon*s   labors,   for   instance,   may   fairly   rank   with   White- 
tield's. 

A\'hitetield  was  still  in  Ids  meridian  of  streiiirth.  lie  traveled 
in  Enirland  and  Wales,  preachiiii:'  more  than  twelve  times  a  week 
to  audiences  of  never  less  than  ten  thousand. 


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CHAPTER   n'. 

The  Coimfcss  <if  llnnthvidon. 
ETIIODISM  wiis  tlio  help  Mild  hlossing  of 
the  poor,  jind  tlu;  coinnioii  jji'oplc!  re- 
ceived it  iiladly ;  yet  it  was  not  eontined 
to  the  poor.  Not  inniiy  wise,  not  many 
niiii'hty,  not  many  noble,  l)eeanie  active 
in  its  toils,  yet  it  was  not  left  with- 
out witness  as  to  its  power  to  reach  and 
bless  even  those  in  the  hii^hest  station, 
(rcorire  III.  was  a  member  of  a  ]\Iethod- 
ist  chiss. 

Selina,  daiijrhtcr  of  the  Earl  of 
Ferrers,  and  of  remote  roval  lineage,  was 
born  four  y(;ar  later  than  John  Wesley. 
She  married  the  Earl  of  Iluntiuirdon, 
whose  tastes  were  for  a  life  of  retirement. 
Her  l)rother  was  Earl  of  Chestertield,  "the 
tirst  aentleman  of  his  century."  The  loss 
of  several  children  was  eU'ective  in  irivinu-  her  feeliniis  a  re- 
ligious turn,  which  the  sisters  of  her  husband,  the  Ladies 
Hastings,  tenderly  encouraged.  One  of  these  had  aided  the 
^Methodists  at  Oxford  ;  another  Ix'came  the  wife  of  Inohani,  a 
^lethodist  preacher.  The  Earl  v.as  anxious  over  his  wife's  feel- 
inirs,  and  called  liishop  Benson,  who  had  ordained  A^'hitetield.  to 
counsel  and  restore  her.  X"ne(|ual  to  the  task,  the  Bishoj)  regret- 
ted his    ordaining;   the  preacher.     "Mark  my   words  I ""  said  the 

92 


jd 


TJie  Counti'xs  nf  llnntiiKjdon. 


l»3 


("ountof^s,  "on  vour  dviiiL^  bed  voii  will  rctlcct  upon  il  with 
pleasure."  Years  after,  the  liishop,  dyin^',  sent  to  ask  White- 
lield's  ))rayers  and  made  him  a  handsome  oH'erinj:"  of  money. 
The  Karl  died  of  apoj)lexy.  and  his  Countess  entered  uj)on  a 
career  of  Christian  usefulness  hardly  e(jualed  in  all  the  history 
of  the  Chureh.  She  met  \\'(>slev,  and,  as  his  labors  Ixn-ame 
more  distinct,  she  eolijx'rated  with  his  l)ranch  of  Methodists.  He 
often  preached,  to  the  noble  and  courtly  company  at  her  residence 
in   Donninirl   n   Park.      She    said  of  his  "Christian  Perfection": 

"It  is  absolutely  the  most 
complete  thiui;  1  know  ; 
the  doctrine  I  lioi)e  to 
live  and  die  by."  She 
chosen  Whitetield  and  his 
Calvnnsm  as  nearer  to 
her  views,  but  she  was 
the  warm,  harmonizing 
friend  l)etweon  the  <rreat 
hiborers,  so  d(>arly  did 
she  h)ve  them  l)()th.  She 
])r()uiilit  it  about  that 
one  Sunday  Whitetield 
preached  and  Wesley 
aided  at  the  Foundry, 
and  on  the  next  A^'esley 
l)reached  at  the  Taber- 
cou.vrE.soi.iiLMi.s,.i>u.v.  j^.^^.|^.^    Whitetield   assist- 

ing:', while  at  the  end  of  the  f^ervicc  twelve  hundred  took  the 
Lord's  supper  at  the  hands  of  both.  Harris  aided  the  Countess 
in  this  work  of  harmony.  She  writes  :  "  Thanks  be  to  (Jod,  for 
the  love  and  unanimity  that  have  been  displayed.  ^Nlay  the  God 
of  peace  unite  us  all  in  the  bond  of  atl'ection  I  " 

This  noble  lady's  part   in  Methodism,  nmst  have  its    place  in 


I'' 

'!! 


I 


^  i 


it 


.(•Mil 

1)1  II  * 


III 


<'!)! 


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n 


t 


1)4 


TIk'    SliH'i/   of'  yit'l/inil isiH 


<'\('i'_v  liislorv  (il'llic  inovciiiciil ,  mikI  it  iiitiy  ms  well  now  Ix*  ti'Mccd. 
\\  licr  London  mansion,  the  resort  ot'llic  t"!i>liion  and  aristocfacy, 
slic  invited  \\'liitelield  to  iiddi'ess  lier  court  iy  circle.  Ilel)ecaino 
liei'  chaplain,  and  the  hero  of  Moorlieids  liad  a  nearinn'  tVom  the 
iiohh'  and  eniiiHMit.  the  highest  audience  in  the  land. 

>\'esley  was  (hdiu'hte*!.  " 'I'hey  will  not  let  us  come  neaf  them." 
'V\n\  polished  Lord  ( 'hestei'iiidd  said:  "Sir,  I  will  not  tell  you 
Avhat  I  shall  t(dl  others,  how  nuich  I  a])])i'ove  you  :""  and  he  had 
the  Kvauirelist  ])i"each  in  his  own  private  chapel  at  liretly  llall. 
His  wife  and  her  sister  embraced  the  faith.  Had  he  hut  done  thc! 
samel  lie  would  not  at  the  close  of  his  hrilliant  lif(^  have  writ- 
ten :  "  I  have  not  heen  as  wisi'  as  Solomon,  hut  I  have  been  as 
wicked,  and  I  can  as  truly  say,  'all  is  vanity  and  vexation  of 
sj)irit."  " 

Hume  listened  with  ])leasui"e  and  surprise.  Horace  ^^'alp()le 
was  able  to  i-esist  oidy  by  extra  tritlinus  of  his  restless  wit. 
Holiuii'broke,  the  are-h-inlidel,  heard  with  aj)j)roval,  and  his  l)ro1lier. 
Lord  St.  John,  (unbraced  the  faith  of  the  i)reacher.  To  all  this 
1)rilliant  circle,  Whilerield  was  as  direct  and  earnest  of  ajjpi-al  as 
in  all  other  places,  and  his  word  was  with  divine  j)()W(!r.  The 
Countess  of  Suffolk,  the  reiunina"  beauty  of  (Teorao  Second's 
Court.  Pope's  "(iood  Howard,"  was  under  a  sermon  thrown  into 
jin  a<j:<)ny  of  conviction,  and  declared  that  the  sermon  was  aimed 
rt  hei'self  alone.  Thus  hiu'h  and  h)W  weiv  shariiiir  the  same 
liracious  visitation  from  above,  and  the  truth  had  trophies  from 
every  arade  of  society. 

The  ( 'ountess  went  on  with  enhiririnir  zeal  for  saeritice.  She  sold 
her  Jewels  :  she  aave  up  her  e(|uipau"e.  and  reduced  her  hereditary 
experiditure.  and  jrave  to  the  service  of  religion  more  than  half  a 
million  of  dollars.  She  fitted  up  halls  and  theaters  for  chapels,  and 
built  new  ones,  l)oth  in  city  and  country.  Kminent  cleriiymen,  as 
Toi)lady.  author  of  "  liock  of  Aaes."  her  own  kinsman,  Shirley, 
Benson  and  Fletcher,  aided  her  plans,  and  shai'ed  her  liberalitv. 


^ 


.1,1  iilii 


Till'  (Jimnfi  sx  iif  nuiillii'lilini . 


;).► 


Often  she  inndc  in  iicison  cxtcMisivc  tours  in  conipMny  with  iU)l)lo 
ladies  :iii(l  pi'omineiit  ev;iiiL''elists,  irivinL""  to  the  lahoi's  of  these 
iiiuonj:'  the  people  that  ehanii  so  potent  in  Mntrland — the  presence 
(if  iioltilitv.  What  was  Ix-tter,  she  pive  her  sure  faith  and  her 
ardent  pi'ayers. 

Dividinji'   I^iiLdand   i  'to  six  districts,  she  sent  one  of  her  l)est 
laliorers  into  eacli,  hiddinur  liini  preach   in  every  phice,  hiriie  or 


iiiii 


i 


ii 


■v-s% 


as 
The 
ind's 
into 
inied 
;anie 
Voin 

sohl 
itary 
alf  a 
,  and 
n,  as 
Hey. 
ilitv. 


'^'!! 


MNICHr 


TKEVECCA  COLLKIIK. 

small,  not  already  "canvassed,"  and  by  this  system  she  had  at 
her  death  reached  almost  the  entire  Kiniidom. 

She  could  build  chapels  iaster  than  she  could  find  preachers. 
In  an  old  castle  of  the  times  of  the  Lords  of  Snowdon,  before  Wales 
was  conquered,  at  Trevecea,  she  o})ened  a  school  for  clei'gymen. 
Chcstertield  and  other  no))le  friends  aided  her  in  the  work,  for  her 
own  income  was  always  overdrawn.      She  hud  Wesley's  approval. 


ii 


'Mill 

:n  I 


J  J 


I! 


,;i 


m 


i)(i 


The  f'Story  of  Mrlliodii'tii. 


I'    'ii 


AA'ritiiiir  to  FlotclHM',  she  so  stirrcMl  his  >oiil  with  her  wise  mikI 
ircnci'ous  plans,  thiit  he  dreamed  of  them  in  the  visions  of  the* 
i)i,L'lit.  James  ( ilazeln'ook.  at  work  as  collier  near  Madeley, 
Fletcher's  home,  ai)|)eared  hefon'  him  as  the  lirst  student.  With 
the  morninir'  liirht  (ilazel)rook  was  at  Fletcher's  door,  himself 
restless  with  a  kindred  vision  I  II(>  was  a  Christian  of  seven 
year's  experienee,  of  no  mean  u'ift  insoni:'  and  ))rayer.  and  of  seiis(> 
jind  jiid<rment  above  his  station.  This  tlrst  student  of  Trevocea 
Justified  its  foundinu'.  Aftei'  a  lonu'  and  uset'ul  life  he  died  as 
X'iear  of  Fx'lton. 

There  was  no  lack  of  students  in  his  train  :  Fletcher  hecame 
president,  and  lienson,  the  tii'st  .Methodist  ( 'onnnentator.  now 
represented  in  tln'  Archbishop  of  Canterburv,  took  charire  as  head 
master.  \o  test  of  doctrine  was  established.  True  conversion 
nnd  devotion  to  the  work  of  the  ministi'v,  whether  in  tln^  Church 
or  elsewhere,  were  the  only  re(|uireinents.  The  Countess  gave 
them  board,  tuition  and  "  a  vearlv  suit  of  clothes." 

This  lady,  like  Wesley,  never  dreamed  of  separation  from  the 
church  of  her  ancestors,  and  of  her  heart.  In  later,  years  however, 
she  Mas  leirally  com})elled  to  make  avowal  of  dissent,  in  order  to 
control  her  chapels,  and  make  them  serve  their  intended  purpose. 
Thus  "  Ivady  Huntingdon's  Connection,"  became  distinctly  a  Dis- 
senting Church. 

At  her  death  at  eighty-four,  after  forty-four  years  of  Christian 
labor,  in  widowhood,  she  held  sixty-four  chapels  ;  and,  after  giving 
twenty  thousand  doUai's  in  charities,  she  left  for  the  support  of 
these  tlu!  remainder  of  her  estate.  Her  last  words  were,  •*  My 
work  is  done ;  I  have  nothing  to  do  but  to  go  to  my  Father.'' 

Her  college  now  flourishes  at  Cheshunt.  Her  "  Chapels,''  iiow 
doubled  in  number,  since  her  death,  have  in  doctrine's  practice 
become  Congreirational,  onlv  that  they  retain  a  limited  use  of  the 
Book  of  Common  Prayer. 


s  I 

ji 


m 


("IIAITKK  V. 

7'A''   J/ri'iiic    7\'l)if>.^. 

E  now  iro  l»!i<k  !i  little  ill  our  iiiirnitivo. 
It  ii.'is  already  heeii  said  that  llui  moral 
eonditioii  of  tiie  Knirlish  ))e<)|)le  was  had. 
That  of  the  niiiiiiiir  districts  was  worst  of 
all.  worse  e^•ell  than  that  of  the  Loiuh)!! 
iiiol)  who  assailed  Whitelield  on  Whit 
Monday  at  Vanity  Fair.  Wesley  early  inaih'  it 
a  rule  for  himself,  and  enjoined  it  u))on  his 
preachers,  "to  _u<)  not  to  those  who  need  us 
hut  to  those  who  need  us  niosf."  lie  know  what  to  ex})oct — that 
m()l)s  and  viok'nee  would  await  him.  Majjistrates  would  charire 
upon  him  the  disorders  that  would  arise  ;  the  reirular  eicrijy  would 
eouiit  iiim  an  intruder  whose  presence  was  a  rej)roach  to  their 
own  dignitied,  easy-going  ways.  In  fiict,  toils,  troubles,  death, 
were  in  the  road,  l)ut  the  peoi)l(^  Avere  ])erishing  in  their  sins  and 
there  was  no  other  mode  of  rescue  than  this. 

His  mother  now,  like  a  sinking  huninary,  l)rightened  with  a  tinal 
glow  liis  })ath  and  his  courage.  While  he  was  al)sent  from  Lon- 
don, Thomas  Maxtield,  a  "hel})er,"'  went  to  delivering  fidl  sermons. 
Hearing  of  it,  "Wesley  was  ahirmed  and  hurried  up  to  London  to 
check  such  disorder.  In  the  Foun(h'v  Parsonage  his  mother, 
like  Deborah  in  her  tent,  was  incpiiring  of  the  Lord.  "Thomas 
Maxtield  has  turned  })reacher,  I  tind,"  said  he.  "He  is  as  surely 
called  of  (fod  to  preach  as  3'ou  are,"  was  lier  reply.  Wesley  lu^ard 
Maxtield.  "It  is  the  Lord,"  he  said,  and  so  Maxtield  was  tirst  of 
that  long  procession  of  la}'  preachers  who  have  tramped  so  many 

1)7 


t 


I   I 
I** 

.i«it! 


V' 


I 


V 


(I 


11 1 


IIS 


I  he    Shu'i/    of  Millnxl  Isiii . 


liiiids  Mild  won  xt  iiiiiiiy  Iriiiiiiplis.  "Lmv  pi-caclicis,"  (licy  \\v\r. 
ciillt'd,  liccMtix'  llicy  liiid  ii(»  (»i'diii!ili(iii  tVoiii  ;i  l»i>li(>|)'s  liimds. 
Tlicy  felt  the  moving'  of  the  Holy  (iliosl.  iiiid  :is  llici'c  iirc  times 
wIm'ii  (•((iistiliitioiis  iiiiisl  uivi'  wiiy  tliul  N'Mlioiis  ihmv  Im-  >!i\('d, 
>(>  licic  UMs  ;i  time  wlicii  cliurcli  order  li:id  to  liive  wiiy  tliiit 
the  (io^pcl  iiiiii'lil  l»e  pre;ielied.  Maxlield  pl'oved  Mil  mMc  liiiill. 
Liidy  I  liiiit  iiiL'doii  said  ol"  liiiii  :  "He  is  my  iistoiiisliineiit  :  liow 
is  (iod's   power  sliowii    ill    wcMkiiessI" 

Soon,  within  hearinii'  ol'  the  joy  and  W(trship  ol'  the  throiiiis 
in  the  Foundry,  Mrs.  ^^'esh•y  serenely  passed  to  the  "sweet 
societies"  on  hijih.  She  asUed  her  children  to  sinu".  Jit  the 
moment  of  her  (h'partiire.  "a  ))sahH  of  pi'aise  to  (iod"  that 
she  was  now  to  he  with  ('hrist.  .John  and  live  of  her  daui^li- 
lers  miiiiiled  their     Noices   in  the  sweet,   sad  exercise. 

Ilidpers  no\s  ai'ose,  and  soon  t Wi'iity-three  were  itiiioratiiiir, 
foMowiiiir  tile  example  of  their  iinfirinu"  leader. 

A  remarkable  man,  .lolin  Ncdson,  appears.  lie  had  heen 
religiously  reared,  he  was  liap|)y  in  person,  family  and  estate, 
after  the  modest  stiindiird  of  a  mechanic,  a  stone-mason.  He 
found  that  he  could  not  lixc  liy  hread  alone.  His  hungry  soul 
ijrasix'd  stranirelv  aftei  problems  y)\'  uood  and  evil,  of  life  and 
destiny,  and  he  s})(Mit  hours  after  work  in  noble  loiiuinus  and 
inward  discussions.  \\(\  was  sure  tliat  true  religion  would 
relieve  these  wants,  and  towards  this  his  anxieties  all  tui'ned. 
But  how  to  tind  it?  He  was  already  of  high  morality,  but 
far  from  rest. 

His  fellow  worknuMi  )e(>red  and  insulted  him  without  disturb- 
iuir  his  straniTc  calnmess.  Oiilv  when  thev  took  awav  his 
tools,  to  be  given  back  when  he  should  consent  to  drink  with 
them,  did  he  tight  them  until  they  agreed  that  he  were  better 
let  alouc,  for  "' Im^  hsid  as  brave  a  heart  as  ever  Englishman 
was  blessed  Avith."'  (loing  from  his  home  in  Yorkshire  to  work 
in  London,  he  visited,  on  Sundays,  Church  and  Chapel,  Quaker 


E  <'  ^Mm 


rii>  ILroic  TliiDX. 


00 


ijiiict  and  l{(»iMi>Ii  ritual.  I>ut  iiMwln-rt'  did  lir  tiiid  relict",  lie 
had  resolved  to  aliide  liy  the  ( 'hiii-eli  and  |th»d  aloiii:  in  the  dark, 
when  Wliitetieid's  >ennons  at  Mooi't'ndds  irave  him  a  new,  stranire 
-lioeU.  lie  could  not  sleep,  uidess  to  awake  tVoin  drcadlul 
dreams  with  sweat  and  shivering'.  Then  W'cslev  came  to 
preach  at  the  same  place.     \\  lirst  sii^lit   ot"  him   Nelson  ttdt   tiiat 


Tl 


this  man  could  tinish  toi-  him  what  W'liitetiidd  had  hciiun.     '    Ihis 
man  can  tell  the  secrets  of  my   l>reast  :    he   has    shown  nu'    the 

remedy  tor  my  wi'ctch- 
edliess,  even  the  lijood  ot" 
(  hrist ."  \\'esley"s  sermon 
seeuK'd  to  he  all  for  him. 


11( 


)t  1 


e  was  not  lon<i'  m  com- 
ing to  the  peace  which 
he  so  ionj:' liad  heen  seek- 


Hlii'. 


II 


is    sunple    com- 


rades thought  him  ruin- 
ed. They  thought  he 
was  <i()iniv  too  far,  his 
business  would  sutler,  his 
fannly  would  starve. 
"His  iiavinu'  heard  Wes- 
lev  would  l>e  the  ruin  of 


linn. 


J    ))l"ssed   (lod 


that   Woslev   was    ever 


JOHN   NKI-SON. 


i)orn. 


I   1 


earn  from  iiim 


that  my  chief  business  in  this  world  is  to  not  well  out  of  it."  The 
family  that  lodiiod  him  wanted  to  l)c  rid  of  him,  for  mischief 
would  come  of  "  so  nuich  i)rayina'  and  fuss  as  he  made  about 
reliirion."'     He  prepared  to  leave.     Then  they  thouuht :  "  What  if 


flohn  is  rijrht  and  we  wronu:?"'     One  said 


H'  God  has  done  for 


you  anything"  more  than  us,  show  us  how  we  may  tind  the  same 


mercy 


He  took  them  to  hear  AVeslev,  and  not  in  vai 


n. 


I! 


nip 

If'l 


'•»  'I  ' 
II!  '* 

hi 


10(1 


77/f'    Stnyi/   of'  M(  tliDil IsHi . 


#     :! 


M 


Nolson  \v;is  worUiiiii'  on  the  Kxi'lu>(|ii('r  Imildiiiii'.  On  the 
grounil  that  it  \v:i>  :i  National  rditicc.  the  contractor  riMiuircd  liini 
to  woi'k  on  Sunday.  "Tlu'  Kind's  hiisincss  i-cciuircs  liastc" 
Nelson's  answer  \va.-.  that  lit*  wouM  not  work  on  the  Sal)l)ath 
lor  any  man  in  I"Ji<:land,  t'xiH'pl  to  (incnch  tii'c  or  to  do  sonu'thini:' 
as  needy  of  instant  help.  " 'I'hen  thou  shalt  lose  thy  place. *"  "I 
would  latluM'  starve  than  ollend  (iod."  '' \\'hat  hast  tliou  done 
that  (hou  niakest  sui-h  an  ado  ahout  religion  y  I  always  took 
thee  tor  an  honest  man  and  could  trust  thee  with  live  hundred 
pounds."  "So  you  miuiit,  and  have  neNci-  lost  a  peimy  l>y  me." 
"But  1  ha\-e  a  worse  opinion  of  thee  now  than  ever."  "  Master, 
I  have  the  odds  of  you  there,  for  1  have  a  nuuh  worse  of  myself 
than  you  i-an  havi'." 

flolni  kept  his  plact>,  and  neither  he  nor  his  iV-Uows  worked  auain 
on  Sunday. 

lie  wrote  to  his  wife  and  kindred  in  Yorksliirt',  uruinu'  upon 
thorn  the  life  that  he  was  now  leadinii".  In  the  joy  of  jiis  ni>w 
mind,  he  fasted  that  he  miiiht  uive  the  value  of  his  dimier  once 
u  week  to  the  poor.  He  hired  a  conu'ade  to  hear  ^^'(>sley,  and 
this  man  declared  it  the  best  deed  ever  done  for  him,  for  it 
hrouuht  himself  and  his  wife  to  the  Saviour,  (ilorious  dreams 
camo  now  in  which  John  Nelson  in  his  Hush  of  streni>tii  always 
conquered  Satan  I  Once  in  his  dreams  he  saw  Satan  dashini:' 
amouii'  the  pe()i)le  as  a  huue  red  hull.  He  hravely  urasped  the 
monster's  horns,  threw  it  on  its  hack  and  trod  ujm)!!  its  neck  ! 
flolm  Nelson  is  of  the  style  of  Aidan,  the  a|)ostle  of  North  En- 
aliuid  a  thousand  years  before,  a  brave  hiiih-hearted  man,  (Mpial  to 
any  emeriiency.  So  kind,  so  stronu",  so  clear  of  head  and  <ivner- 
ous  of  temper,  witty  and  fearless,  he  was  the  hero  of  the  lowest 
classes,  and  Southey,  the  })oetic  historian,  gives  the  stone-mason  a 
warm  admiration. 

He  founded  Methodism  in  Yorkshire.  Keturning  to  Birstal,  he 
beiran  to  work  for  '.he  savinu"  of  his  own  kindred.      His  tirst  con- 


Tlir  Ih'vok   'i'i)ii('K. 


101 


verts  were  his  two  hrolhors,  jiiiiiunl  aiultwo  cousins,  iiiul  tiiosc  cost 
iiolilllc  cH'oi-t.  for  ;it  first  tlicv  tliouiiht  .Tolm  deluded  of  tlic  devil 
:m(l  were  not  easily  aruued  out  of  that. 

lie  then  read  the  Uihlc.  which  irrew  hriLditer  to  his  mind,  spoke 
and  prayed  with  those  who  came  into  his  own  house.  Soon  his 
house  IxM-ame  loo  small,  and  standinu-  in  the  door,  he  spoke 
to  outsiders  as  well.  There  was  a  conversion  every  day  ;  drunk- 
ards became  soher  and  the  Sahhath  was  kept  ;  the  face  of  tho 
villaire  was  chani>(>d.  AVeslev  heard  of  Nelson  and  came  to  help 
him.  To  his  surprise  he  found  a  preacher  aiul  a  c»)njj:reij::»tion,  and 
took  hoth  into  liis  i>rowin<:'  system. 

Our  Story  has  already  told  a  little  of  Wesley's  work  in  New- 
castle. It  was  really  after  this  visit  to  Nelson  that  he  heiriin  rej;- 
ulai'  operations  there.  The  })lowshare  of  the  (Jospel  was  never 
di'iven  into  a  wilder  soil.  IIi^  at  once  heuan  the  erection  of 
a  chai)el,  and  in  all  the  reuion  of  the  colliei's  the  wc-vk  of  ij^race 
went  on.     "It  continually  rises,"  said  he,  "  st(>p  I.y  step." 

Now,  too,  he  was  a  week  in  ICj)Worth,  preachiuir  from  his 
father's  tombstone  to  thronas  that  tilled  the  church-yard,  the 
drunken  curati^  forhiddiuir  him  the  jjulpit. 

A  (|ueer  incident  shows  the  nature  of  the  work.  Some  anirry 
opj)osers  procured  the  arrest  of  a  few  Methodists,  and  thes»'  were 
taken  before  a  niauistrate  in  a  neiirhboriuii:  town.  "  What  have 
they  done':'''  The  accus(>rs  had  pr(>pared  no  h^ual  chars;e.  One 
found  his  voice  and  said:  "Why,  they  pri'tend  to  be  better 
than  other  people,  and,  besides,  they  pray  from  morninii'  till 
niizht," 

"  lUit  liave  they  done  nothinir  else?"  "Yes,  sir,"  said  one,  "th(>y 
CON >•(')•/('( f  my  wife,  liefore  she  went  amouii"  tlnMu  she  had  such  a 
tonuue,  and  now  she  is  as  quiet  as  a  lamb."  "Carry  them  back, 
then,  and  let  them  convert  all  the  scolds  in  town,"  and  tlw  parties 
were:  sent  out  of  court.  In  every  jjlace  the  converts  becanu' 
bhnneless  and  harmless. 


if       i^ 


1^11 


-n  1 


I     I- 


III* 

MM' 
t  l< 

I"  :u 
I!' if 

inn 

II'    !.i 
""III 


H 


I 


ilil 


102 


TJie  iSfori/  of  MethodiHrn. 


!    ll' 

I    i 


,1  i^  1 

ii 


ri 


i!    V  lis: 


I   f 


itit  ill! 


]Motliodisin  had  now  reached  tlie  time  when  it  must  dechire 
itself  in  an  intelli^jihle  form,  that  its  own  peo})le  and  the  world 
mi.Ldit  know  its  nature  and  its  purposes.  It  was  already  founded. 
Chapels  had  been  built;  preachers  were  rising;  all  the  distinct- 
ive usages  of  the  societies  had  couk;  in  sight.  A  i)latf()rm  was 
now  necessary,  that  all  might  clearly  know  what  was  required  of 
its  members. 

Now  appears  Wesley's  genius  for  statemanship.  His  dec- 
laration— The  General  Rules  of  the  United  Societies — for  simplic- 
ity, accuracy  and  adaption,  has  no  superior  among  like  docu- 
ments in  Church  or  State.  It  is  still  the  nucleus  of  Methodist 
law  and  usage,  and  with  almost  no  amendment  is  vital  in  all 
Methodist  connnunities.  It  contains  no  formal  doctrine,  but  it 
is  full  of  the  plainest  duties.  In  the  American  Churches,  it  is  us- 
ually read  once  a  year  in  every  society,  and  it  can  no  more  be 
superseded  than  the  Christian  life  of  the  Xew  Testament  which  it 
so  faithfidly  represents. 

Such  a  society,  it  says,  is  no  other  than  a  company  of  men  hav- 
ing the  form  and  seeking  the  power  of  godliness,  united  in  order 
to  pray  together,  to  receive  the  word  of  exhortation  and  to  watch 
over  each  other  in  love,  that  they  may  help  each  other  to  work 
out  their  salvation.  Menil)ers  are  arranged  in  classes  of  about 
twelve,  one  of  whom  is  styled  the  leader,  lie  meets  them  weekly 
to  inquire,  to  talk  of  their  soul's  welfare,  and  to  receive  their  gifts 
for  the  support  of  the  society,  and  these  he  duly  passes  on  to  the 
stewards  and  preacher. 

Only  one  condition  of  entrance  to  the  classes  is  established — a 
desire  to  tlee  from  the  wrath  to  come,  and  to  ))e  saved  from  their 
sins.  This  desire  will  l)e  shown,  tirst,  by  doin;/  no  ]iarni.  Then 
comes  a  remarkable  transcript  of  Christian  morals  : 

"  By  avoiding  evil  of  every  kind,  especially  that  which  is  most 
generally  practiced."  Then  follows  a  partial  list  of  these  evils, 
such  as  before  Wesley's  eyes  were  wasting  the  resources  and  low- 


Xm 


The  Heroic  7'unes. 


103 


criiig  the  civilization  of  Eiiirland  ;  such  as  mar  social  order,  and 
ruin  human  souls  in  all  lands  and  aii'es.  "Drunkenness,  the  buying 
or  selling  of  spirituous  rKjUors  or  drinking  them,  uidess  incases  of 
extreme  necessity."  Here  AVeslev  was  far  ahead  of  his  time,  and, 
even  in  our  day,  so  long  after,  we  see  the  truth  hardly  more  clear- 
ly than  he.  Fraud  towards  the  State  :  1.  ing  or  selling  goods 
that  have  not  })aid  the  duty,  the  matter  in  which  men  are  so 
easily  led  to  quibble,  is  by  name  forbidden.  "  liorrowing,  with- 
out a  probal)iiity  of  })aying,  or  taking  up  goods  without  a  ))roba- 
bility  of  ])aying  for  them."  How  lofty  the  Christian  sense  of 
connnercial  honor  I  Then  comes  solenni  admonition  of  things  in 
which  a  lively  conscience  must  always  be  the  judge,  and  the  con- 
science nuist  l)e  enlivened  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  in  ord(n*  to  judge 
lightly  :  "Doing  what  they  know  is  not  for  the  glory  of  (iod  ;  as 
the  putting  on  of  gold  and  costly  apparel,  the  taking  of  such  di- 
versions as  cannot  be  used  in  the  nanu'  of  the  Lord  Jesus  ;  the 
singing  those  songs  or  reading  those  books  that  do  not  tend  to 
the  knowledge  or  lov(^  of  (Jod:  softness  and  needless  self-indul- 
gence ;  laying  up  treasures  on  earth."  If  these  things  seem  se- 
vere, so  is  the  regimen  of  Christianity  itself  a  self-denial  and  u 
self-control,  and  if  here  is  a  military  sternness  of  discipline,  so  are 
Christians  called  to  be  soldiers. 

After  this  statement  of  things  not  to  be  done,  comes  the  sug- 
oestion  of  active,  ])ositive  aoodness.  Doinu'  uood  of  every  kind 
to  the  bodies  and  souls  of  men — feedina',  clothinii"  and  visitintr ; 
rei)roving,  instructing  and  encouraging;  "trani})ling  under  foot 
that  enthusiastic  doctrine  that  we  are  not  to  do  good  unless  our 
hearts  be  free  to  it;"  /.  e.,  imJess  trp  fed  J  ike  it.  Kspecial  good 
nuist  be  done  to  them  of  the  household  of  faith,  "  Decause  the 
world  will  love  its  own,  and  them  only;"  em[)loying  them  })refer- 
al)lv  to  others,  l)uvini>'  of  one  anothei-  and  heluiuij:  each  other  in 
business.  Diliirence  and  fruirality,  i)atit'nce  and  meekness  are  il- 
lu'^trated  and  enjoined. 


i  1 


if 


mf 


Ml 

'!' 

mil 

n 


III 

•i«i 


n 


u 


M 


I  i 


'.1' 

■  i    : 

i  r  ■ 


"■  ill 
HI 


m 


ni 


mmmmmmm 


I 


I!  * 


104 


'/'/><'   ,S/ori/  i)f  Jli-l/oxli'.- 


■II , 


''riiir<lly,  come  attciidMncc  on  :ill  the  (»r(linancos  of  Clod — such 
as  ))ul)lic  worsliip.  the  niiiiistrv  (»t"  tlic  \Voivl,  citlicr  read  or  cx- 
l»oim(l(Ml,  the  Lord's  Sii|)j)('r.  family  and  private  prayer,  and  fast- 
iiiii'  or  altstiiieiice.  " 'I'liese  are  llie  (Jeiieral  Rules  of  our  societies  ; 
all  (»f  wliicli  we  are  tauLdit  of  (iod  lo  observe,  even  in  Ilis  wi'itten 
^\'ord,  the  only  rul(^  of  our  faith  and  practice:  and  all  these  we 
know  His  Spii'it  writes  on  truly-awakened  hearts.""  Then  follows 
a  solenui  and  atfectint:  statement  of  the  treatment  of  those  who 
observe  not  these  Rules.  There  is  no  trial  or  expulsion.  "He 
hath  no  more  place  amoni:;  us ;  we  have  delivered  our  own 
souls."' 

'I'hese  simple  rules  ai'c  not  foi-  doctrine,  but  for  behavior.  They 
were  foi'  those  who  were  born  to  a  creed  :  who  were  assumed  to 
be  alreadv  members  of  the  ("hnrch  of  Knu'land,  as  the  \\'eslevs 
themselves  were.  They  were  to  ))r()niote  piety  under  the  creed, 
and  inside  of  the  ("hui'ch,  nor  was  thei'c  evei'  a  ("luii'ch  orii'aniza- 
tion  in  which  these  rules  would  not  be  as  salutai'V  as  in  the 
Knillish  Chui'ch.  They  ii'uide  to  nood  cit  izcnship.  to  a'ood  church- 
iellowsiiip,  to  active  benexolence  and  to  ])crsonal  jjiety.  "(),"' 
says  Wesley  in  his  .lournal,  "that  we  may  never  make  anythinu" 
more  or  less  the  term  of  union  with  us,  l)u1  the  having'  the  mind 
that  \vas  in  Christ,  mid  the  walkini:'  as  He  walked  I "" 

Followinii'  these  Rules  came,  in  ITb'i,  the  dctinite  beii'iiiniui:' of 
the  circuit-system.  He  t'ound  that  it  would  never  do  for  himscdf 
and  his  helpers  to  ramble,  to  touch  and  no,  leavinu'  the  impres- 
sion made  to  the  unsettled  chances  of  the  future.  At  one  he 
"  res(»lved  not  to  strike  one  stroke  in  one  i)lace  where  he  could 
not  follow  u[)  the  l)l()w.""  Himself  was  still  an  explorer,  and  some 
of  his  helpers  served  as  pioneers,  but  if  in  any  place  he  saw 
])r()()fs  of  iiood,  he  fixed  a  simple  plan  by  which,  at  a  tlxed  time, 
a  liiven  man  should  i)reach  there.  Thus  the  itinerancy  unfolded 
tb  'uit-system,   whii  h   seemed  early  to  assunu!  the  harmony 

ai,     .eiiularitv  of  the  ver\'  solar  svsteni  in  the  skv. 


>    l| 


-  %\ 


fe 


lO 


11 


to 


!l- 


110 


•II- 


llii' 


of 

'If 


10 


l\V 


0(J 


IV 


m 
"If 


>>'*¥ 


•III 


if'j 


Ml 


ill 


)li  i 


"nil 


iDi; 


Till'    Stnfi/   I  if'  Mi'tlinl  isiii. 


\\    I 


I     J.     v. 
■I     i':     t 


I  i  i|  ii 


Strange  pliysieal  cH'ccts  wci'*'  frccnicnl  under  lii>  l)l•(■!l(•llillL^  sukI 
al  Ncwcasllc  llicy  were  now  specially  tVe(|uent.  lie  exaniiiie<l 
these  closely,  hut  tliey  pu/zled  liini  and  lie  never  clearly  solved 
them.  ^^'ho  indeed  has  yet  solved  them  ?  They  ai'c  of  the  many 
thiiiiis  that  hatlle  hur.ian  philosophy.  lie  tound  that  the  people 
aU'ected  were  in  i)erlect  health,  were  iVee  i'rom  all  physical  ten- 
dency to  convulsions. 

It  was  under  the  j)reachinii'  oi*  in  meditation  upon  it  that  they 
dropped  down,  lost  their  strenju'th,  and  usually  had  violent  pains. 
Sui'h  allections  ( ot'ten  called  "the  |)o\ver")  have  attended  the 
(iospel  in  America,  and  have  not  been  conlined  to  .Methodism. 
Mr.  A\'esley  saw  no  ])hysical  cause  ot"  these  things  and  he  was 
sure  that  they  were  not  of  (iod.  He  therefore  assiniicd  them  to 
Satan,  as  mimickinu'  the  work  ot'Ctod  to  discivdit  it.  or  as  teasina' 
those  who  would  co!iie  to  Christ.  He  carefully  states  all  the 
symptoms,  phenomena  and  secjnel  of  the  cases.  ])ut  the  cause  per- 
j)le\ed  him.  Charles  was  wiser  and,  sure  that  nuich  was  t'ounter- 
fcit,  he  laid  his  hand  lirndy  on  these  disordei's  and  was  little 
troubled  with  them,  "and  the  J^ord  was  with  us."  Charles  was 
now  called  to  the  test  of  his  hei'oic  teni[)er.  flohn  had  preached 
in  Leeds,  allerwards  a  _ii'r<'at  center  of  .Methodism,  and,  on  his 
return  to  iU'istol.  Charles  went  north  to  A\'ednesl)ury  and  ^^'alsal. 
Ilei'e.  as  lie  ])reachcd  from  the  steps  of  the  market-house,  a  mol) 
came  in  like  a  tlood  and  stones  Hew  around  him,  often  hitting'  hut 
'lot  Iuirtin2'  him.  He  was  di-i\-en  from  the  sti'})s,  hut  he  rcii'ained 
(hem  three  times,  tinished  his  sermon,  and  was  pronouncinn" 
the  henediction  when  a  final  I'ush  swej)!  him  oil".  He  nave  thanks 
to  (iod  and  ))assed  uidmi't  through  the  midst  ot"the  I'ioters. 

Charles  was  a  jjoet.  timid,  lonu'inii'.  sensitive  and  often  melan- 
choly. His  lofty  sense  of  duty  took  precedence  of  his  fears, 
and  his  imati'inat  ion  llamed  into  i^lorious.  heroic  eniol  ion,  when 
peril  was  around  him,  and  he  was  in\iui'il)U'.  He  wrote  as  he 
had  ()ft»'n  felt  and  ^eeii  : 


M 


yV/r    Jlrrinc     'riiiKs. 


107 


**  Yea,  let  men  rage,  since  Thou  will  spretui 
Thy  sliadowliig  wings  above  my  head; 
Since  in  all  i)ain  Tliy  tender  love 
Will  still  my  sure  refresiimcnt  i)i*ovc." 

This  liyiini   was    inspired    lit    Slicllicld.   where   he    came    from 
AValsal  iiinl  whei'e  "hell  tVoin    l)eiiealh  was  nioNcd  to  oppose  us." 

"  I'he  iloods  heii'an 
1o  lit'l  up  iheir  Noice."* 
at  his  entrauee.  A 
iiiilitary  otlieer  U'd  the 
luoli.  Stoues  Hew,  hit- 
tinii'  the  desk  and  })eo- 
ple.  so  that  ( "harles 
auuouueed  that  he 
»  would  u'ct  out  ami  face 
•■  the  toe  in  the  Held. 
lie  nave  the  furious 
otlieer,  who  had  "the 
whole  aruiy  of  aliens"* 
*  at  his  hack,  a  tract  ot 
flohu's  ".Vdvice  to  a 
Soldier,"  and  then, 
while  stones  were  hit- 
ting' liim  in  tiie  fucc, 
he  played  lor  thelviuu' 

and   went    on  with  iiis 
sei'mon  .      He  t  hen 


CnAKLKS    WESLEY   IN    A    MOl!. 


Ml 

le 


prayed  for  sinners  as  servants  of  the  devil.  The  olliccr  drew 
his  sword,  forced  his  way  through  the  crowd,  and,  preseiitiiiij 
his  weapon  at  ^Vesley■s  hreast,  swore  re\ ciiu'c  for  such  insults 
to  the  Kinu",  his  uiasler.  A\'esh'y  opened  his  \-est  and,  with  iiis 
eye  on  his  liery  foe,  >aid  (|iiietly:  "1  fear  (iod  and  honor 
the    Kiiiii'.  "       The   captain  (|iiailed.   and.   returiiin:^:'  his  sword  to 


1 

litiM 

'  1^ 

tMIW 

it 

1 

'•IM 

T 

iilli 

;i'<  1 

t 

'I 

1 

'II 

'■ 

1 

III 

li 

"  1 

•'I  ' 

■■..i:| 

[ 

:;!'■ 

1 
1 

<lli 


'•■.l;( 


\M% 


U)H 


Till'   >'i(i>ri/   I  if'  Mith(j<(isiii . 


il 


its  scabliMnl,  lie  Viiiiislicd  tVoiii  the  ^cciir.  \\'<'>l<'y  went  to 
il  tViciid's  house,  hut  tlic  lllol)  ciiinc  liowliiii;-  ok.  All  the  luol»s  lie 
liiid  si'i'u  "were  its  Ijtiults  to  these."'  Thev  set  to  pulliiii:"  down 
the  )>rea<'hiiiii-house  "  whil"  we  were  ))riiyiiiii"  :iiid  praisiui;-  (iod. 
It  was  a  irloi'ious  time  with  us,  and  luany  found  the  Spirit  otMilory 
resting  uj)()n  them."  The  rioters  went  on  all  nighl ,  t  i-yinir  to 
])reak  the  dooi-  and  teai'ing  down  one  end  ot'  the  house.  Charles 
calmly  slept.  "I  i)eli(!ve  I  got  nioi'e  sleep  than  any  of"  my  neigh- 
hors.'' 

He  was  expounding  at  five  tlie    next    morning    and    preached 
later  in  the  town.     After  he  went  from  the  cliapel  the  moh  left  not 


ST.  IVKS. 


one  stone  of  it  npon  another.  They  afterward  followed  him, 
broke  in  \\\v  windows  of  his  lodging,  and  j)ro|)osed  to  tear  it  down. 
AVeary  but  fearless,  he  "fell  asleej)  in  tive  minutes  in  the  dis- 
mantled room."  He  sank  into  the  nursing  of  sleep,  that  knits 
uj)  the  ravelings  of  care,  with  the  words  :  "  Scatter  Thou  the 
)ieo))le  that  delight  in  war  I "  At  Hve  the  next  morning  he 
comforted  his  brethren  and  went  on  t<»  other  i)lai'es  of  toil  and 
danirer.     \\  i-ame  to  his  knowledy:e  that  the.'  rlern'v  of  Slu'ilield  had 


.^  .4 


TItt    IJtI'OiC     'rillK'X. 


l()!t 


iiiiisc'd  this  iii(»l»,  s(»  (IciKmiK'iuLT  Motliodisin  as  to  inaUc  the  |)t'()])l(' 
tliink  that  whocvci-  even  Uillcd  them  was  doiiiu-  (iod  x-rvicc. 

At  St.  Ives,  whci'ci  he  was  pi'ciu'hini;  soon  after,  and  which  Ix'- 
caino  a  stroniT  center  ot"  Metliodisni  in  the  west  of  Kniiland,  a  niol» 
lirojve-  the  \vin(h)ws  of  the  cliapel,  tore  np  its  seats  and  carried 
away  everytliinji'  hnt  its  stone-walls,  while  Charles  looked  on 
silently.  Wlienthov  Hercelv  swore  that  In*  slionld  i)reac.h  there  no 
more,  he  at  once  heiran  to  jjroclainj  tlu^  (Jreat  Redemption.  Thev 
lifted  theii"  cluhs  upon  him,  hut,  sti'anac  enonu'lu  never  struck 
liini.  They  bent  and  rudely  trami)led  even  the  women  present, 
hut  those  and  all  wcn^  full  of  endurinir  couraji'e.  After  an  hour, 
the  crowd  fell  into  a  (juarrel  of  tiieir  own,  l»roke  the  head  of  their 
own  captain,  the  town-clerk,  and  left  Wesley  and  his  i)eople.irivini:" 
thanks  for  Jibility  to  keep  the  tield  until  victory  came.  At  Poole 
a  church- warden  headed  the  mob  and  drove  \\'esley  and  his 
iicarers  out  of  the  jiarish,  and  there  on  the  church-rcH-ord  stands,  to 
this  day,  tlu!  bill  paid  for  li(|Uor  furnished  on  the  occasion  I  Sure- 
ly then;  was  need  of  reformation  I  And,  amid  the  yell  of  mol)s, 
Methodism  came  into  Cornwall  to  slay.  These  miners  were  men 
of  couraue  and  sincerity,  and  .Methodism  has  amonu'  them  a  list  of 
saints  and  heroes,  many  of  whom  contimie  unto  this  present. 

Soon  after  this  John  \\'esley,  with  Nelson,  came  to  the  same  re- 
gion. Xelson  worked  at  his  trade  by  day  and  heljx'd  Wesley  at 
niirht.  For  three  weeks  of  service,  they  slept  on  the  lloor. 
"\\'esle3'  had  his  areat-coat  for  a  pillow  ;  I  had  Uurkitt's  Notes  on 
the  New  Testament  for  mine,"  says  Nelson.  One  morninu'  about 
three  o'clock  Wesley  turned  over,  and,  tindinir  N<'lson  awake, 
clapped  him  on  the  side  :  "  Brother  Nelson,  let  us  l)e  of  uood  cheer  ; 
1  have  one  whole  side  yet,  for  thc^  skin  is  otf  but  one  side.''  Thev 
were  seldom  asked  to  eat  and  drink.  Once  Wesley  stopped  to 
pick  blackberries.  "Brother  Nelson,  W(!  ouirht  to  be  thankful 
that  there  are  plenty  of  blackbei'ries,  for  this  is  the  best  country 
1  ever  saw  for  ji'ettinu'  a   stomach,  but   the   worst   I   ever  saw  for 


W 


m  ^: 


r" 

m  ill 
II  I 


Hi 


Hi 


■i: 


i 


iii-  M 


I 


lO 


110 


Tha  iSfof'/  of  Mcthoillsni, 


t* 


.t^'ttili;:  food.       Do  llic   people  tliilik   lliiit    we  <!m   live  l>y  preneh- 


lliL^.'' 


Nelson  siiid  :  "I  know  not   wluit  llie\'  iiiav  think  :   but  one 


iisked  in<'  t(»  eat   sonietliinii' .'is   I   ejiine  from  St.  .lust,  w  lien   1  ate 


lieai'tilv  of  bread   and  lione\'. 


\\ 


eslev  sai( 


1:   "V 


(111  are  \V( 


11  oir 


I  had  thought  of  beii'^inn'  a  crust  of  bread  of  the  wonu-n  when'  I 
met  the  people  at  Morvali,  but  foi'uot  it  till  I  had  u'ot  some  dis- 
tance fr(»m  the  house." 

All  this  has  lon^"  since  t-haiiiicd  in  Connvall.  Kven  then  it  was 
cheered  by  the  Jiearty  /eai  with  which  the  (iospel  was  welcomed. 
On  his  last  morning'  with  them  \\'esley  was  waked  between  three 
and  four  bv  thrones  of  niineis  under  his  window,  sinuiiuii'  as  thev 
waited  for  the  sermon  at  live. 

Nelson  remained  to  serve  those  hopeful  societies.  \\'esley  now 
followed  where  Charles  had  Ik'cu  at  ^^'alsal  and  Wednesbury  in 
the  "  Hlack  Coiuitry."  A  mob  l»or<'  him  in  the  niii'ht  and  a  violent 
rain,  to  a  mau'isti'ate  in  town  and  to  another  two  miles  away  ; 
neither  would  rise  fi'om  his  bed.  Another  mob,  led  by  an  Ama- 
zon, took  him  from  the  first,  the  leadei"  knockiuii'  down  several 
men  in  his  defence,  until  she  was  herself  o\-ercome.  A  man  ainu'd 
blows  with  an  oaken  stall' at  Wesley,  any  one  of  which  would  have 
killed  him,  but  strauii'cly  not  one  hit  him.  lie  was  then  struck 
on  his  l)reast  and  mouth,  but  felt  no  ])ain.  He  cahnly  watched  the 
mol),   crvinu',   like  the   roai'  of  waters,  "Knoc 


k    his   bi-ains   out 


down  wi 


th  I 


imi 


kill  I 


lim  at  once  I   crucifv  him 


No,  let's  hear 


lim  first."*  criec 


lotl 


lers. 


II 


e  broke  out    aloud  mto  pi'ayej 


Tl 


le 


leader,  a   prize-tiiihter,   was  oxcrawed  and  suddeidy  said:   "Sir, 
1  will  spend  my   life  for  you  :  follow  me.  and  not  one  soul  here 


diall  touch  a  hair  of  \o\\v  head. 


A  butcher  took  ell'ective  hold 


of  four  or  live  of  the  rioters  ;  others  turned  protectors,  and  all  to- 
il'cther  ojx'ued  the  way  and  iiuai'ded  Wesley  to  his  lodiiinus.  '\\\v 
captain  of  this  mob  was,  tVom  the  moment  of  his  tui'uinu',  iu  deep 
urief  foi'  his  doiniis.      lie  soon    joined  the  society  he  was  Ix'iit  on 


destr 


ovmi:'. 


What    do    vou    think    of    mv     brother?"    asked 


J 


TlHi  Ih 


roic 


y 


iiiirM. 


Ill 


Cliiillc 


Think  oriiiiii — that  Iio  is  a 


(111  his  si(h>,  uhcii  s(»  maiiv  ot" 


man  of  (iod  :  and  (Jod  w-h 


lis  coidd  not  kill  one  man 


So  tin 


(TiiN-  anc 


1th 


plowshare  of  the  (rospd  suhsoilcd  socictv.       The  d 
magistrates   usnally  opposed   it   and  approved  the  inohs,  hut   all 


tlios<»    outl>r<'aks    drew    the    attent 


Wesl( 


d  1 


(^y  and  ins  now  torty-live  itiiiei-ants  W^W  th 


tliein. 


Tl 


ioi:    of    th<'    eonnnon    people, 
e  crisis  to  he  n|)on 


us    was   no  time  to  lliiieh  from  their 


eallinuf. 


\y 


lien 


nmx 


Is  were  alert  and  mol.s  were  rife,  impressions  fresh,  deep  and 


lasitin*;:  could  he  made.     I'p  and  doin.r  t 


I      i' 


ff 


W 


».... 

1 

;     1 

m* 

1 
1 

1 

llttt 

1 

1    . 

Ml 


*.  f 


4 


iff 


h 


■^iH« 


^li  i!  I 


t 


CIIAITKIJ  VI. 

Jiaffh's  (I III/    Mifnrirx. 

IIK  strife  liTcw  IK)  cooler. 
Charles  K(l\\  iird  Stuart, 
•rraiidsou  ol"  .lames  II.,  who 
had  ill  Kiss  I)eeii  driven  t'roiii 
the  Kiiiilisli  throne,  tried  to 
re<;ain  what  his  <;randtatlier 
had  lost.  With  seven  men 
he  JaiiiU'd  on  an  island  of 
the  Hebrides.  The  Seoteh 
of  the  North  rose  to  help  him,  hut  the  battle  of  Culloden  brouiriit 
his  effort  to  a  bloodv  end.  Aniony;  the  storii's  that  ran  al)()ut  AVes- 
lev,  one  was  that  lu^  was  an  aij:ent  of  the  ProtcMider,  a  Komanist  in 
disguise,  ami)ly  sui)i)lied  with  money  to  aid  m  the  ruin  of  En- 
ghind.  This  nave  a  new  pretenee  to  the  mo])s  and  A\'alsal  andWcd- 
nesburv  wore  roused  aii'ain.  The  houses  of  Methodists  were  wreck- 
ed, and  personal  violence  most  shanu'fully  indulged.  Proprietors 
threatened  to  discharge  their  workmen  if  they  refused  to  join  the 
mob,  and  for  a  week  the  villages  for  four  or  tive  miles  were  actual- 
ly ill  civil  war.  The  same  })ro})rietors  promised  to  check  the  mob 
if  the  Methodists  would  sign  a  pledge  never  to  receive  or  invito 
a  preacher.  Not  one  would  sign  !  "  We  have  lost  our  goods  ; 
Ave  can  now  lose  only  our  lives  ;  we  will  not,  to  save  them,  wn*ong 
our  consciences."'  It  whs  printed  in  London  that  these  "disturl)- 
ances"  were  because  the  Methodists  "  upon  some  pretended  insults 
from  the  Church  party,  had  risen  against  the  Government."   Wos- 

112 


M 


fiiiL 


JJaHh.'K  oiiil    \'ii/ijn'rs. 


l\:\ 


lev   kiH'W   that    was  a   I'u',  and   he  liasti'iu'd  to   face  IIm'  iii(tl».      \lv 
\\ni\n\    war,    indeed.       'I'lic  mayors  and  iiiairistrates    of  a   tlo/cn 
towns,  from   Dndley  to   llirstal,  weic   lioundin;L'  the  niol>  to  riot. 
Only  here  and  there  a  (^naker  lia<l  done  an\*liini:  to   help  his  poor 
Id'ethren.    Wesley's  presence  did  wonders  ;  his  people  took  joyt'nlly 
the  spoilin*!!;  ot'theii'  i;oo(ls,  and  did  not  render  «'vil  tor  evil.    Wes- 
ley's  spirit   rose.      '"I'he  rocks  melted  "  under  his  preachinir,  and 
soUH'  of  his  tinest   hynms,  sun/j,"  now   for  their  j)oetic  merit,  hut 
then  as  very  war-s()n<;s,  were  composed  amid  these  storms.       In 
Cornwuli,  too,  the  chapel  at  St.  Ives  was  destroyed.    Wesley  wont 
there  and  found  with  joy  that  his  people  were  faithful.      Some  of 
the  converts  had  been  the  roughest  men  of  the  rej^ion.    They  now 
came  to  sutfer  foi"  the  faith,  and  they  tMidured   with  patience  and 
courau'c.    There  was  a  public  fast,  for  fear  of  a  French  and  Span- 
ish   invasion.      Wesley  heard,  that  day,  a   sermon  in   which   his 
Methodists  were:  denounced  as  traitors  and  enemios  of  Kniiland. 
At  sundown  ho  i)reached  at  (Jwennap.     This  is  a  natural  amphi- 
theater, which  had   for  him  the  charm  of  a  natural  temple.   "  I 
stood  on  the  wall  in  the  calm,  still  (neniuir,  with  tiie  sottinjj;  sun 
behind  me,  and  almost  an  imuniierable  nudtitude  before,  behind 
and  on  either  hand.     Many  likewise  sat  on  tlu;  little  hills,  at  some 
distance  from  the  bulk  of  the  congregation.       Hut  they  could  all 
hear  distinctly  what  I  read  :      'The  disciple  is  not  above  his  Mas- 
ter,' and  the  rest  of  those  comfortable  words  which  are  day  by 
(lay  fulfilled  in  our  ears."     Down  to  his  old  ago  he  preached  once 
a  year  in  Gw'ennap.      He  says  of  his  vast  gatherings  there  :  "  I 
think  this  is  one  of  the  most  magnificent  spectacles  to  bo  seen  this 
side  of  heaven.      No  music  is  to  l)e  heard  on  earth  comparable  to 
the  sound  of  these  many  thousand  voices,  all  harmoniously  joined 
in  singing  jjraises  to  God  and  the  Lamb."     So  Wesley  held,  in 
these  trying  times,  the  con(|uests  which  we  saw  him  making  in 
Cornwall. 

Some  of  his  preachers  were  now  taken  as  soldiers,  among  them 


Mill 


I  • 


,i:!i 


II 


'lit, 


'I*  I  i 
It'  *  r 

III'" 
II' i,  I 

ili;l'| 


M'  I 

.ii 


I  vi 


\  III 


nil 


111 


•  ?► 


hI 


11^ 


s 


III 


li. 

A. 

114 


T/te  /^(ori/  (if  Mclhoillsiii. 


rTohii  Nelson.  He  lijul  Ikmmi  iiaviiiix  liis  lull  shan;  of  trials  and 
triuMiphs.  At  Xottiiij;liam,  a  scrtrcaiit  of  the  army  said  to  him, 
with  teal's  :  "Sir,  in  the  })re8cnt'eof  (Jod  and  all  this  people,  I  beir 
your  pardon,  for  I  came  on  j)urpose  to  mob  you;  hut,  when  I 
could  _<ret  no  ont^  to  assist  me,  I  stood  to  hear  you  and  am  con- 
vinced of  the  dei)loral)le  state  of  my  soul ;  I  helieve  you  are  a 
servant  of  the  livin<;  (iod."  He  then  kissed  Nelson  and  went 
away  weepinj;.  At  (xrimshy  the  parish  cleriryman  hired  a  drum- 
mer and  supplied  liquor  to  the  mol),  until  they  destroyed  the  house 
where  Nelson  was  stopping.  Before  it  was  over,  the  drunnner 
with  teai's  threw  away  his  drum  and  melted  under  tiie  sermon. 
At  Leeds  he  stayed  awiiile,  hewing  stone  hy  day  and  preaching 
at  night.  At  Hirstal,  his  home,  the  lying  rector  reported  him  as 
a  vagrant,  and  he  was  arrested  to  (h)  duty  in  the  army.  A  towns- 
man oll'ered  rive  hundred  pounds  for  his  exemption,  hut  in  vain. 
"J  am  as  able  to  get  my  living  by  my  hands  as  any  man  in  Enghmd, 
and  you  know  it,'"saidhe  to  his  accuser.  To  his  weeping  friends, 
lie  said,  as  he  marched  otf:  "(lod  hath  his  way  in  the  whirlwind: 
only  jiray  for  me  that  my  faith  fail  not."  At  Bradford  he  was  put  in 
aduiiiieon  under  a  slauuhter-house.  "It  smelt  like  a  i)ig-stv.  but 
my  soul  was  so  rilled  witii  the  love  of  (lod  that  it  was  a  paradise 


to  me 


V. 


tl 


veil  tliere  lie  mac 


le  tl 


u^  usua 


1  iniiir 


ession.      A  soldier 


oU'ered  to  answer  for  him,  and  an  enemy  of  Methodists  secured 
him  a  bed.  People  outside  handed  him  food,  water  and  candles, 
and  joined  in  ills  hymns.  He  shar(>d  their  bounty  with  his  fel- 
l()w-[)ris()ners.  His  wife  and  young  children  came.  She  said, 
through  the  hole  of  the  door  :  "  Fear  not ;  the  cause  is  (rod's,  for 
which  you  are  here,  and  He  will  })lead  it  Himself.  He  that  feeds 
the  young  ravens  will  be  mindful  of  me  and  the  children.  He 
will  give  you  strength  ;  He  will  i)erfect  what  is  lacking  in  us,  and 


hriuir  us 


to  H 


is  rest. 


Nelson  answered   this  brave  woniai 


I 


cannot  fear  either  man  or  devil,  so  Ion*;  as  I  rind  the  love  of  God 


as  1  now 


lo. 


Batth 


f'S  (did    17(yo/vV.s. 


11; 


1 

1 
1 

i 

1 

.'(is 


lit 


lie  w.'is  sciil  1()  Leeds.      II''  llidiiulit  of  *li('  Pilirriiu's   Pioiiross, 


ni 


tor  Imiulrcds   in  the  street   iiM/e<l  at    liiiii  tliioiiiili  ti 


■on  uate. 


Otl'ers  were  iMiide  to  l)inl  him  out.  l>ut  ir.  v:iiii.  At  nii^lil  a 
hundred  persons  worshiped  with  him  in  the  jail.  He  was 
taken  to  Yoi'k.  where  "hell  from  beneath  was  moved  to  meet 
him."  so  was  Methoilism  hated  there.  As  armed  troops  guard- 
ed him  throuii'h  the  streets.  ])eople  shouted  from  streets  and 
indows  as  if  one  who  had  laid  waste  ihe  Nation   were  eaplive. 


w 
It 


if  11 


had  I) 


itv   hut  (lod 


was  1o  nun  as  it  inei'c  nad  heen  none  m  llie  city  l>ui  Knn\ 
and  me  I"  He  admonished  the  otiieers  when  they  swore,  and  they 
eowered  before  his  eye  and  word.  The  corporal,  who  dresse(? 
him  for  i)arade.  shook  as  if  he  had  the  ])alsy.  He  said  he 
would  hear  arms  as  a  cross  hut  would  not  use  them.  To  tiirht 
was  not  aii'reeahle  to  his  eonseienee.  and  he  would  not  !iann  hi:^ 
I'onseienee  for  any  man  on  "arth.  He  had  a  woi'd  for  all  who 
ai)j)roaehed  him.  He  ])reaehed  to  a  ureat  eomi)a;iy  who  wished 
to  iret  his  views,  and  they  said  :  "This  is  tlie  doctrine  that  ought 
to  he  ])rea('hed.  let  men  say  what  they  will  against  it.  "" 

A  young  ensign  ])ut  him  in  ])rison  for  ])reaching  and  lor  re- 
l)uking  his  ])rofanily.  "It  caused  a  sore  lemjjtation  to  arise 
in  me.  to  think  that  a  wicked,  ignorant  man  should  thus  tor- 
ment me.  and  I  able  to  tie  his  head  and  heels  togetlu'r.  T 
found  an  old  man's  bone  in  me  :  l»ul  the  Lord  lifted  up  a  stand- 
ai'd.  when  anger  was  coming  .)n  like  a  llood.  else  I  should  have 
wrung  his  neck  to  the  ground  and  set  my  foot  u|)on  him." 

After  three  months  Lady  Huntingdon  ])rocured  his  discharge, 
md  he  went  to  his  spiritual  warfare. 

Now  fell  the  first  martyr  to  .Methodism.  Thomas  lieard.  a 
preacher,  was  in  Nelson's  i-egiment  by  a  like  proi-ess.  He  was 
brave,  but  his  health  failed  and  he  died  in  hospital.  \vlieri'"h(^ 
still  })raised  tiod  continually."  "Servant  of  (Jod.  well  done  I " 
Wesley  was  deei)ly  atl'eeted  by  his  death,  and  Charles  wrote  up- 
on it  two  of  his  best  hvmns. 


!i 


'I     ! 

in     ' 


I  i. 


■i*  I'.iitimwffiwiimnMwwtiwwi 


ssm 


I       * 


;   I 


111 


l|f 


,3  fliT 


*-l 


1 1  ^f , 


ll"/d 


MONUMENT  OF  JOHV  AND  CHARLES  WK8LEV,  IM  WESTMINSTER  ABBEY. 


jilttl 

till  I 


t 


Uil' 

m 


il!  ill ; 


i't 


1' 

5 


m 


118 


77/6  >Sfor>/  of  Methodism. 


It  was  ill  Auirust  of  1744  tliat  Wesley  preached  his  last  sermon 
before  the  Universitv  at  Oxford.  "I  am  now  clear  of  the  hlood  ot 
those  men."  He  remcmhi'rcd  Ihat  on  that  dav  in  the  century 
lu'fore,  liis  ancestor.  Jolm  Westley,  had,  Avith  two  thousand 
ch'rirynien,  l)cen  lurned  from  parish,  house  and  home.  "I  am 
only  hindered  from  preaching,  and  that  in  a  kind  of  h()noral)le 
manner:  it  l)eing  determined  that,  when  my  turn  came  next, 
they  would  pay  another  person  to  preach  for  me."  I'hey  respect- 
ed his  Lfcneral  character.  Thev  little  thouirht  they  Avere  jrcttinir 
rid  of  the  most  illustrious  man  that  Oxford  has  ever  produced. 
A  statue  of  AYesley  adorns  the  House  of  Parliament ;  his  hust  is 
among  the  illustrious  dead  of  Westminster  Abbey,  but  at  Ox- 
ford he  has  no  honor. 


,%^1|'0 


WKSL1.V    AT  TlIK   riAXO. 


M 


C  IIAPTEll  VIL 


Tin'  First    Conference. 


APIDLY  and  widely  was  the  work  of 
Metliodisni  cxtcndin<r.  No  very  def- 
inite })laii  had  yet  been  framed  for  the 
work  of  the  itinerants,  and  to  AVesley, 
with  whom  order  was  instinct,  some 
hroader  provision  seemed  necessary. 
Circuits  might  chish  with  each  other; 
men  might  vary  from  uniformity  in 
doctrine,  and  even  practice  and  discipline  in 
the  societies  might  decline.  To  meet  the  need 
of  the  case  he  wrote  to  several  clergymen  and 
to  his  helpers,  asking  them  to  meet  him  in 
London  and  give  him  "  their  advice  respecting 
the  best  method  of  carrvinij  on  the  work  of 
~^jV^;*yr  God."  This  produced  the  First  Metik^dist 
CoNFEKEXCE.  It  opciied  in  the  Foundry  on 
Monday,  June  2'),  1744.  The  Lord's  Supper 
w^as  on  the  Sunday  administered  to  its  mem- 
bers, and  on  the  INIonday  morning  Charles  preached  before  them. 
There  were  present,  besides  the  AVesleys,  four  regular  clergymen 
of  the  Church.  These  were  John  Hodges,  Henry  Piers,  Samuel 
Taylor  and  John  INIeriton.  Of  lay  preachers  there  were  Thomas 
Maxtield,  Thomas  Richards,  John  liennet  and  John  Downes. 
These  good  men  felt  the  importance  of  their  errand  in  this  gather- 
hig.     They  looked  upon  themselves  as  c(mie  to  lay  the  base  of 

nil 


iiiiiiiji 


;  'Hi 


Iff! 


'Pi 


..uljl 


H 

P 


il 


*. 


'Ml 

r 


^■1 


^MHVI 


!1 


■¥ 


120 


The  Story  of  Metliodism. 


what  building  might  rise,  whose  magnitude  they  could  not  foresee. 
They  therefore,  us  wise  niaster-l)uilders,  j)roeeeded  in  sim[)licity 
and  sineerity  of  mind.  They  incjuired  "as  littk'  ehildren  who 
have  everything  to  learn."  "How  far  does  each  agree  to  sul)mit 
to  tiie  unanimous  judgment  of  the  rest?" 

This  most  serious  question,  which  still  involves  Methodist 
freedom,  was  answered.  "In  speculative  things  each  can  submit 
only  so  far  as  his  judgment  shall  l)e  convinced ;  in  every  practi- 
cal point,  so  far  as  we  can  without  wounding  our  own  consciences." 
"  Shall  we  be  afraid  of  thoroughly  debating  every  (]uestion  that 
may  arise?"'  "What  are  we  afraid  of  ?  Of  overturning  our  tirst 
principles?  If  they  are  false,  the  sooner  they  are  overturned  the 
better.  If  they  are  true,  they  will  bear  the  strictest  examination." 
The  proceedings  of  the  Conference,  carefully  preserved,  show  that 
these  tirst  i)rinciples  of  free,  fearless  discussion  were  not  violated. 
After  an  interval  of  prayer,  the  next  (|uestion  was  :  "  What  shall 
we  teacJi?^^  next :  "  What  shall  we  do/''  The  tirst  related  to  the- 
ology. Here  all  dogmatics  were  avoided.  These  were  already 
amply  given.  Only  the  doctrines  relating  at  once  and  directly  to 
personal  religion,  without  which  one  caimot  l)e  saved,  were  con- 
sidered. Care  was  taken  to  define  Ke})entance,  Faith,  Justitica- 
tion,  Sanctilication  and  the  Witness  of  the  Spirit.  These  are  still 
the  "Five  Points"  of  Methodism,  and  nothing  unrelated  to  these 
was  discussed.  "  What  shall  we  do  ?  "  Secession  from  the  chiu'ch 
found  no  favor,  but  "How  far  is  it  our  dut}'  to  obey  theliishops?" 
was  a  hard  question.  "  In  all  things  inditi'erent ;  and,  on  this 
ground  of  obeying  them,  we  should  obe}-  the  Canons  as  far  as  we 
can  with  a  safe  conscience." 

The  General  Kules  were  approved.  Directions  as  to  the  best 
methods  of  preaching  were  given,  such  as  have  never  since  been 
improved.  In  every  sermon  the  lay-})reacliers  were  :  tirst,  to  in- 
vite ;  second,  to  convince:  third,  to  olfer  Christ ;  then,  to  l)uild 
up. 


Tlw  First   Conference. 


121 


Wesley  was  still  slow  to  extend  his  lay-iniuistiy.  Ilis 
hejirt  was  fondly  hoping  to  sec  the  tire  now  kindled,  warm  the 
(•ler<;y  of  the  Church.  "  We  l)elieve  that  the  Methodists  will 
either  be  thrust  out,  or  will  leaven  the  whole  C'hureh."  lioth 
these  things  have  been  done  I  '' Can  we  have  a  seminary  for  hu 
borers?"  There  was  no  money  but  the  decision  was  atlirmativ(>  ; 
"If  (rod  spare  us  till  another  Conference." 

At  that  next  Conference  it  was  asked  :  "  Can  we  have  a  semina- 
ry for  laborers  yet?"  "  Xot  till  God  gives  us  a  ])r()per  tutor," 
was  the  answer,  then.  These  educational  longings  were  worthy  of 
a  movement  that  l>egan  in  a  University.  They  foreshowed  the 
vast  educational  system,  that  counts  to-day  in  one  branch  of 
Methodism,  in  one  country,  more  than  a  hundred  institutions  of 
learning. 

Lady  Huntingdon  entertained  the  Conference.  Wesley  ))reach.. 
ed  in  her  mansion  from  :  "  What  hath  (iod  wrought?"  introducing 
her  system  of  household  sermons,  that  made  her  I^ondon  residence 
a  chapel.  Two  of  \\'esley's  clergymen  took  ])art  in  the  sei'vices, 
and  his  four  lay-preachers  sat  with  them,  their  i)eei"s  in  calling  it 
not  in  churchly  order. 

On  Friday  the  Conference  adjourned.  The  work  befori;  them 
was  not  yet  to  organize  an  ecclesiastical  Itody.  It  was  to  bring 
men  to  Christ,  to  create  a  Itody  of  sincere  helievers  and  practical 
workers.      Providence  would  guide  the  futiu'e. 

Wesley  now  felt  called  to  a  defense  of  his  opinions  and  prac- 
tices in  a  wider  and  more  lasting  manner.  II is  Earnest Ai)peal  ta 
Men  of  Reason  and  Religion  is  elo(|uent.  hold  and  thoughtful.  Tt 
speaks  of  facts,  })lain  to  all  eyes.  There  had  come  in  five  year>  a 
great  reform  in  England.  "Christ  is  jtreadu'd,  and  sinners  j  re 
converted  to  (iod."  The  inference,  therefore,  caimot  be  denied, 
that  "(rod  is  now  visiting  His  people."  He  defends  his  open-air 
preaching.  "For  jtreaching  inward  salvation,  attainable  by  faith, 
we  were  forbid  to  i^reach   any  more  in  those  churches  where,  till 


■'i|' 


II 


»:3 


ttIB 

iiii 
'Ilk  , 


Mil 


"'It 


,  I  t 


f  ^ 

1. 

i 

i 

1  ■ 

'  t 

ill: 

h. 

!:: 

i 


]-2-2 


Th>'  Stortf  of  Midhodtstn. 


then,  wo  w»M»?  irliuUy  received.  Wo  nowdoclaro  tho  irriice  of  (rod, 
who  (Iwelletli  not  in  toinplos  luado  with  Imnds,  in  all  |)l.'U'<'s  ot'  His 
doniinioii.  ^^'e  dtH'hiro  it  whorovor  a  door  is  oponod.  nor  dare  wo 
rofraiii."  IIo  turns  upon  the  regular  cdergy.  "There  are  anioni!: 
yourselves  unirodly,  unholy  men.  A  cleriryinan,  so  druidv  that  he 
can  scarcely  stand,  may  (as  at  Epworth)  in  tho  i)rosence  ot" 
a  thousand  jx'ople  sot  uj)()n  another  clergyman,  ot"  tho  same 
Church,  hoth  with  abusive  words  and  open  violence.  Where, 
then,  is  your  zeal  against  these':'" 

This  book  had  its  ett'cct,  but  Wesley's  power  was  in  his  daily 
.abor,  bringing  the  people  to  the  Saviour,  and  framing  them  into 
Christian  order  and  fellowshii). 

"liy  their  fruits  ye  shall  know  them."  Charles,  now  going  to 
Cornwall,  wIum'o  persecution  had  Just  raged  so  tiercely,  writes, 
"  What  an  amazing  work  has  (rod  done  in  one  yojir  I "  The 
preacher,  with  five  or  six  sermons  a  day,  could  not  moot  the  de- 
mand for  i)reaching.  Tho  morals  of  tho  whole  jx'oplo  had  im- 
ijrovod.  At  a  jail  delivery,  not  one  felon  was  found  in  prison  ;  a 
thing  utterly  imknown  before.  A  wrivstling  match  was  given  u|), 
"all  tho  (iwomiai)  men  l)oing  struck  olf  tho  devil's  list,  and  found 
wrestling  against  him,  and  not  for  him."  .Vt  tho  amphitheater 
he  spoke  for  three  hours,  "yet  knew  not  how  to  stop,"  to  thou- 
sands on  its  liToen  slopes.  All  the  societies  were  urowiuir,  and 
where  i)ersecution  had  l)oen  ticrcest,  "our  Lord  rides  on  tri- 
umphant." 

Tho  wars  of  the  Continent,  in  which  England  was  now  in- 
volved, "the  war  of  the  Austrian  Succession,"  called  for  soldiers. 
Preachers  and  moml)ors  wore  impressed  for  the  service.  In 
Cornwall,  John  Wesley  was  arrested.  AVhon  tho  arresting  party 
found  they  had  a  gentleman  and  a  clergyman,  thov  excused 
him  for  a  day,  and  never  again  troubled  him.  That  evening,  he 
was,  while  ])reaching,  dragged  away,  "for  his  majesty's  service," 
but  was  soon  returned  and  completed  his  sermon.     The  next  day 


.4 


)      Jl 


The  First     Conference. 


123 


51  iiiol)  iiHsailcd  liiiu  al  Falmouth,  and  his  escape  was  narrow, 
liiit  in  the  midst  of  alarms,  he  was  amazed  at  the  success  of  the 
truth.  "  I  never  remember  so  ^reat  an  awakeninj;."  Soon  he 
writes,  "  We  are  here  in  a  new  world,  as  it  were,  of  peace, 
honor  and  abundance  ;  how  soon  T  should  melt  away  in  this  sun- 
shine I  but  the  ;^()()dness  of  (iod  sull'ers  it  not." 

Xelson,  too,  at  York,  where  he  had  been  impressed,  now  preach- 
ed with  <rreat  success.  His  manner  touched  the  soldiers.  One 
day,  an  otKcer  who  had  come  to  pull  him  down,  while  others 
threw  squibs  at  him,  knelt  on  the  around,  with  tears,  to  be<r  pray- 
ers  for  God's   mercy,  dedarinir  that   he  Avould  lead  a  new  life. 

This  leads  to  Methodism  in  the  army.  The  soldiers  were  of 
the  worst  classes,  vaurants,  and  dangerous  men  in  part,  and  the 
officers  were  wicked.  ("Our  army  swore  terribly  in  Flanders," 
said  Uncle  Toby. ) 

Methodist  soldiers  from  AVesley's  societies  at  once  began  to 
})reach  in  camp.  Six  or  seven,  with  ofttMi  a  thousand  hearers, 
were  doing  there  the  work  of  Wesley  and  Nelson,  and  Inuidreds 
were  converted. 

,Iohn  Evans,  in  the  heat  of  battle  at  Dettingen,  devoted  his  life, 
if  sj)ared,  to  the  service  of  God.  He  found  an  old  Bible  in  a 
baggage-wagon,  and  a  Methodist  soldier  who  showed  him  the 
way  of  life.  He  opened  two  preaching  places  in  Ghent,  and 
"preached  and  lived  the  Gospel"  until  his  death  in  the  l)attle  of 
Fontenoy.  ^Military  life  brings  out  character  in  strong  develop- 
ment ;  and  two  of  these  soldiers  claim  a  brief  notice.  The  soldier 
who  led  John  Evans  to  Ghrist  was  John  Haime.  He  was  a  ner- 
vous, sad-hearted  man,  and  went  as  dragoon  for  relief  in  the  ex- 
citement of  war,  but  between  its  excitements  came  deeper  des- 
pondency, liunyan's  "(xrace  Abounding,"  helped  him.  He 
read,  he  fasted,  he  prayed  sQVvn  times  a  day,  At  length  "the 
Lord  took  away  my  sorrow,  and  tilled  my  soul  with  peace." 
Then  his  sorrow  came  back,  but,  before  he  left  for  the  seat  of  war, 


il"!l! 

'111   M 

i 

•1 

■'■■1., 
,'  -111 

■4 

'                   '      ;|JI 

Si!: 

II'  it! 
'"Ill 


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.^1 


124 


TliC    tStori/    nf  M(illi(Klisii), 


lljjflit  n'tiinicd.  lie  touirlit  seven  !i(»urs  Mt  1 'en  iiiircn,  :iii«l  in  llic 
earna<r(',  "my  lienrt  wns  lilled  with  love,  peiiee  and  jov,  more 
than  lonifiie  can  tell." 

Sampson  Stanitorth  then  came  with  his  re^rimcnt .  lie  was  a 
(lespei'ate  man,  who  up  to  twenty-live  had  never  uttered  a  prayer, 
or  known  what  the  llilde  is,  or  had  a  reliL''i<)us  thouirht.  He  went 
into  the  war  tor  its  wild  i-ecl<less  freedom,  in  his  reiriment  was 
a  sad  man,  Mark  liond,  who  read  and  prayed  much,  and  drank 
no  rum.  He  Itelieved  himself  forever  lost  for  l)las|)hemy,  and 
he  had  entered  the  war,  hopinj::  to  Wy  killed,  and  thus  avoid  sui- 


ei<U 


This  sori'owful  soul  found  under  the  words  of  J  Jaime  and 


Evans  tile  peace  of  (lod. 

He  felt  at  onec^  stranLi'eiy  and  strouixly  drawn  towards  the  terri- 
ble Stanifoi-th.     The  latter  I)eini:'  thus  led  to  the  soldiers'  meetinjjf 


w 


as,  for  the  lirst  time,  conseious  of  i-eliLHous  thouu'hts. 


I 


was 


knocked  down  like  an  ox."     Uond  had  a  pieces  of  an  old  Bible 


I 


can 


do  l)etter  without  it  than  von;"  fortius  man,  whose  con- 


stant crv  now  was  for  (iod's  merev,  had  never  read  a  i)assai>"e  ii 


his  life.      Soon    he    saw    "the    Saviour    on  a  cro> 


unid   partinir 


clouds,"  and  "allmyuiiilt  was  gone."  I'he  chami)i(m  was  con- 
verted; ten,  at  least,  of  his  comrades  went  with  him.  Soon  three 
hundred  soldiers  Mere  in  the  societies,  and  seven  were  preachinir. 
Tabernacles  ^vere  built  in  the  camps,  and  Ilaime  bravely  said,  "I 
have  now  three  armies  airainst  me :  the  French,  the  wicked 
Enirlish,  and  one  of  devils."  Kven  the  ofKcers  and  their  families 
were  drawn  to  the  preaching. 

At  Fontenoy,  ]\Iay  1,  174."),  forty-six  thousand  men  entered 
the  dreadful  battle.  Staniforth  prayed  for  grace  to  "  behave  as  a 
Christian,  and  a  good  soldier,"  and  as  he  and  Bond  lay  on  their 
arms  after  the  first  day  of  the  l)attle,  "  we  had  sweet  communion." 
One  of  the  ^Methodists,  anticipating  death,  as  lie  went  into  the 
tiirht.  said  :  "I  am  going  to  rest  in  the  bosom  of  Jesus,"  and  so  he 
did.     The  courage  of  these  men  in  battle,  and  their  fortitude  in 


d 


Tin;  F(i\s(  C'»>/f-i'tun', 


\2'> 


suH'criiiir,  amazed  even  tlic  Inavc  hearts  around  them.  ChMiieiits, 
a  preacher,  with  one  arm  oroken.  ^n'asped  his  sword  with  the 
other  liand;  "I  will  not  l'o  yet.""  His  other  arm  was  shattered. 
"I  am  as  hapj)}'  as  1  can  i>e  out  of  paradise.""  Kvans,  hoth  h'jj^s 
shot  away,  died,  jjraisinir  and  exhortiiiir.  llaime"s  horse  was  i<ill- 
ed  under  him.  An  ollieer  asked:  "  \\'here  is  your  God  now?" 
"  Sir,  lie  is  liere  with  me." 

"Ilainie  is  irone  I ""  cried  one,  as  the  horse  fell.  "lie  is  not 
irone  yet,"'  called  llaime.  In  seven  hours  of  carna<re,  "I  was  as 
full  of  joy  as  I  could  contain."  Meetin<r  a  wounded  hrother, 
covered  with  hlood,  and  searchinir  for  water  :  "  IJrotluM'  Ilainus  T 
have  a  sore  wound.'"  "Ilavc^  you  Christ  in  your  heart?"  "  I  have  ; 
\  have  had  Illm  all  this  day."  Bond  was  shot  in  a  later  battle. 
Stout  Staniforth  carried  him  out  of  the  tiirht,  and  his  last  look, 
as  the  tide  of  war  parted  them,  was  "  with  eyes  tull  of  heaven." 
Wesley  was  <rlad,  even  proud,  of  his  soldiers.  They  lived  faith- 
fully and  died  Itravely.  Such  as  came  hack,  like  ('r()mw(!ir8 
"men  of  reliirion  "  a  century  before,  were  faithful  still,  and  the 
tirst  societies  in  Scotland,  at  Dunbar  and  Mussell)oi'ou_i;h,  were 
formed  by  drairoons  of  Ilaime's  reiriment.  Wesley  found  them 
"})atterns  of  seriousness,  zeal  and  all  holy  conversation." 

Forty  years  after  Foutenoy,  at  seventy-ei<rht,  died  John  Ilaime, 
declaring:  that  a  convoy  of  angels  would  take  him  to  his  re.st.  He 
had  made  full  proof  of  his  ministry. 

Nearly  sixty  years  after  his  conversion,  and  fifty  years  of 
preaching,  the  mighty  Staniforth  entered  the  heaven  of  the  true 
the  brave. 

Methodism  never  had  victor}'  more  timely  and  complete  than 
with  these  soldiers.  The  mo1)s  of  London,  the  colliers  of  New- 
castle, the  miners  of  Cornwall,  the  rude  peasants  of  Yorkshire, 
and  now  the  hard  soldiery,  felt  its  reviving  call.  Many  came  into 
a  new  life,  and  all  were  atfected  with  new  ideas. 

The  Second  Conference  was  at  Bristol,  Au<r.  1,  174n,  but  was 


^,k1 


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m 


Ml  < 
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i  -i 


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li! 

'Ml 


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l-'C, 


'Jill'    >Sfn)'i/   of  Mif/iiii/isiii. 


luaiUt'd  l»y  no  s|)«M'iiil  iiitcrcsl.  Tlu'  North  of  Kii<;laii(l  was  astir 
with  the  PrctciuU'i's  war.  and  at  N«'W<asth»  WcsU'v  joiiuMl  loyally 
in  t'lirthcriu*;  the  |)ul)li('  safety.  When  it  was  hclicvcd  that  the 
next  (lay  llic  cily  would  he  attaclu'd,  he  held  three  services 
of  unusual  power.  "  \\'e  ei'ied  niiuhtily  unto  the  Lord  to  sparo  a 
sinfid  land."  That  niu'ht  a  man,  cajjtured  and  stran<r<'ly  saved 
tVoni  suicide,  told  the  plans  of  the  enemy,  which  would  have  been 
fatal  to  the  city,  and  the  peril  passed  away. 

This  year  Charles  hurt  his  leu-  l»y  sli|)|)inir,  and  for  weeks 
])reaclu'd  daily  on  his  Unees,  heinj;  carried  from  ])lace  to  |)lace. 
A<  soon  as  he  could  us«'  crutches,  he  ])reached  twice  daily.  "The 
word  of  (iod  is  not  l)ound,  if  1  am.      It  runneth  ver\  swiftlv." 

The  Third  Conference,  May  12,  174<i,  was  of  little  importance. 
\\'cs|ey's  preachinii"  toiu's  now  covered  all  Hnuland  and  \\'ales, 
but  he  met  this  year  only  one  mob.  For  once,  a  derjiyman  came 
to  his  help:  Thompson,  IJector  of  St.  (iennis,  Wales;  a  man  of 
jrenius,  but  of  bad  lifi'.  He  reformed,  and  irave  himself  to  his 
work  so  well  and  wisely  that  he  wus  counted  a  Methodist.  His 
liishop  threatened  to  "  strij)  his  gown  from  him."  "  I  can  preach 
the  (iospel  without  a  uown."  The  JJishop  apologized,  and  Thomp- 
son went  on  faithfully.  Wesley  was  with  him  in  his  last  illness, 
and  comforted  him  with  the  sacrament.  \\'eslev  was  now  able 
to  visit  j)laces  remote  and  neglected,  and  there  was  rising  u  supply 
of  able  men  to  follow  where  he  opened  the  way,  and  even  to  open 
the  way  for  him. 

Spate  fails  us  even  to  name  many,  Imt  we  must  mark  the  l)rave 
John  Nelson.  He  Avas  of  the  })eople,  oidy  wiser  and  stronger  ;  he 
knew  the  people  and  they  heard  him  gladly.  He  had  become  a 
very  bishop  in  his  own  town.  One  who  had  aided  in  ])utting  him 
into  the  army  sent  for  him,  and  the  preacher  aided  his  old  per- 
secutor into  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  preaching  afterwards,  at  the 
man's  earnest  wish,  a  sermon  over  hi-s  coffin. 

Contiicts  still  awaited  Nelson.    At  Harborouiih,  a  son  of  the  rec- 


i 


M^U\ 


'I'lir    Firsf    (  'tuif'rninc. 


•11 


tor  I(mI  a  m()l»,  "iiliiu)>l  tlu'  wlioli-  town,""  to  dnii:'  the  lirst  pi-oiiflier 
i-oiiiiiii:".  1>y  a  lialtci-.  and  drown  him  in  thf  ri\ ei'.  A  haH'-insaiU' 
man  stood  to  throw  the  haUcr  :  a  Imtchcr  was  to  Htarl  the  dra^- 
'•inir.  'rhrvcoidd  <lo  notliiiii:  whih*  Nelson  sp(d\e,  s(»  thevtlrown- 
cd  his  voiec  with  "six  hirp'  hand-ludls."  Then  the  haUcr-man 
canif  up;  NCUoii  then  thrust  hack  the  rope,  and  llie  man  It'll  "as 
il'  knneUed  down  hy  an  iix."  The  huteher  treiiihled:  !i  eonstahle 
who  had   couie  to  protect  the   inoh,  "turned   pale,"  and  bringing 


,IOnX    WESLEY    AT   WEnNESlUHY. 

Nelson's  horse,  hade  him  "go  on  in  the  name  of  the  Lord."     "O 
iuy(iod,  hitherto  Thou   hast   helped   me!"  eried   Nelson. 

At  Ilei)\vorth  .Moor,  stones  were  thrown  while  he  prt-aehed.  hut 
none  hit  him.  As  he  left,  one  felled  him  Ideeding  to  th(>  earth, 
where  for  some  time  he  hiy.  The  moh  followed  him  as  he  stag- 
irered  away,   with  blood  streaming  (h)wn  his  l)aek,    erying  that 


lirt' 


f 


M 
■      ''l 

'  v 
'1! 

!! 

» 

'ifili 

^1 

If  1' 

P 

1  "^'i 

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1 

1 

^^1 

i  1.1 


<ll  Ilk  ; 

Hi!    i 

iiiiu 


I       r    1 
I 


I  • 


1-2H 


Tlic   Sfiir>/  of  Mcllioilism. 


tli(\v  would  Uill  liiiii  hi'voiid  tho  town.  lie  tliouirlit  lunv  his  Lord 
was  slain  wilhout  llic  pitc.  A  door  was  opcni'd  lor  liini  :  a  sur- 
<roon  dressed  his  wound,  and,  Ix'tbro  nijrlit,  ho  went  to  Atconih, 
where  lie  was  to  meet  the  \ery  crisis  of  all  his  eonlliets. 

A  eoaeh  full  of  vouna'  men  drove  up  to  the  assembly  and  the 
men  showed  their  ))uri)ose  l)y  throwinu'  eii'irs  and  sinuiui;  soni^s  of 
revel.      Then  the  two    stronirest    eanio  to    Nelson,   one    of  them 
ervinir :     "If  I    do   not    kill    him,    I    will    he    dannied."     Three; 
times  he  attempted  an  assault.     The  third  time  Nelson  fell  and 
the  ruffian,  puttiua-  his  knees  upon  him,  heat  him  senseless,  open- 
injjf  the  wound  of  the  day  ])efore.      Twenty  others  of  the  mol) 
oame  to  finish  the  deed.      They  i)ieked  him  u})  in  his  blood,  jxot 
him  into  the  street,  and  a  brother  of  the  })arish  eleriiyman  cried: 
"We  will  kill    vou  as    fast    as    you    come."     Kiuht    times    they 
felled  him  to  the  earth.     Then,  as  he  lay  exhausted,  they  drajrued 
him  by  the  hair,  with  merciless  kickinu',  for  twenty  yards,  over 
tin;  stones.      Six  then  jumped  on  him  "to  tread  the  Holy  (xhost 
out  of   him!"     Pausiiiir,  they  said:  "We  cannot  kill  him."     "J 
have  heard  that  a  cat  hath  nine  lives,  but  1  think  that  he  hath 
nine  score."     "  If  he  has,  he  shall  die  this  day."     "Where  is  his 
horse,  for  he  shall  (|uit  the    town  immediately."     "Order   your 
horse  to  be  l)rou<2:ht  to    you,  for   you  shall  go  before  we  leave 
you."     To  this  Nelson  said  :  "I  will  not,  for  you  intend  to  kill 
me  in  jirivate  that  you  may  escajjc  justice  ;  if  you  murder  me,  it 
shall  be  in  public,  and  it  may  be  that  the  gallows  will  bring  you 
to  repentance  and  your  souls  be  saved  from  the  WTath  to  come." 
They  then  tried  to  thrust  him  into  a    well,  but  a  woman  there 
knocked  several  of  them  down,  and,  being  recognized  by  some 
ladies    passing    in   a    carriage,  they  sneaked    away.     And  the.^e 
twenty,    such    as    Fielding   portrayed,  of  the   gentry,   did    such 
exploit  I     The  hero,  a  martyr  in  will  but  not  in  deed,  rose  up  in 
stiength  and  the  next  day  rode  forty  miles  to  hear  Wesley  preach, 


The   First    Conference. 


V2U 


iukI  to  tell  liiiu  of  (U'(m1s,  (U>t(M'niin('(l,  dared  and  done.  Ncdsou 
had  pn-at'lu'd  at  Mancliostcr,  in  I74.'i,  the  lirst  Methodist  hiy 
s(M'inon.      ^^'('sl('y  h)vcd  the  miu'lity  "(aU'l)." 

About  this  time  flolin  'rhorj).  a  drunkard  of  Yorkshire,  de- 
clared to  his  eonn'a(hvs  that  he  eouhl  out-i)reaeh  A\'hiteliehl.  lie 
opened  the  15ihi(>  at  random  and  read,  "  Kxoept  ye  re|)ent,  ye 
shall  all  likewise  ])erish."  It  seemed  to  him  a  holt  from  heaven  I 
In  terroi"  h(>  could  not  but  i)roeeed.  (Jod  spoke  throuiih  him, 
makiuir  his  own  hair  stand  on  end,  and  bindinn'  with  a  spell  the 
drunken  eomi)any.  After  the  discourse,  he  left  the  ale  house  and 
joined  a  society.  .Vfter  two  years  of  rei)entance  and  aniiuish,  he 
found  peace,  l)ecame  a  successful  preacher,  and  "  madt>  a  glorious 
end." 

\\'eslev  was  now  in  fidl  tide  of  labor  and  success.  The  period 
of  i)eril  was  over;  only  toil  remained.  At  stormy  ^^'ednesbuI•v 
he  preached  to  vast  coni»reiriitioiis.  '' behavini;:  iu  !i  maimer  becom- 
inir  the  (iospel."  In  London,  the  rector  of  St.  Bartholomews, 
himself  become  a  Methodist,  oi)ened  his  church  to  ^^'esley. 
"How  stran<rely  is  the  scene  chan<red  !  \\'hat  lauuhter  :uid  tn- 
nudt  amonii"  ^  'e  I)est,  when  we  ])reaclied  in  a  London  chui'ch  ten 
years  ago  I  now  all  are  calm  and  attentive,  from  the  least  even 
to  the  areatest."  The  yast  conareuation  in  rou<rh  Moorlields 
wa.s  such  that  "  it  was  comfortable  even  to  .see  them."  At  Ep- 
worth,  hi'  I'cceiyed  the  Lord's  Supper  in  the  church,  but  preached 
in  the  air,  for  reason  of  the  nudtitude.  "(lod  has  wrouuht  u|)on 
the  whole  place."  At  Leeds  and  Birstal,  Nelson's  tields,  only 
a  third  of  his  congreuations  could  hear  him.  "Surely  none  will 
now  a-icribe  this  to  the  novelty  of  iield  preaching,"  after  twelve 
years  of  it. 

At  almost  every  step  of  our  story  ap])ears  some  new,  interest- 
ing j)ersonage,  like  a  fresh  star  swinuiiing  to  the  sky.  William 
Grimshaw  had  become  a  clerirvman  "of  averaue  i)iety."     lie  sel- 

t    «.  til 


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Tha  l'^irt<t   C>>ii/'''rrit<'(' 


i;;l 


(lom  swore  iirossly,  "unless  in  suitaldc  t'oinpiiny."  and.  uiu'ii  he 
li'ot  (Iruiik.  he  still  aimed  to  "sleep  it  oil' l»etoi'e  he  i:'(>t  home'.'' 
He  \\as  ill  this  sliaiuef'ul  life  visited  Ity  deep  com  ii't ions.  niid.  al'ler 
years  of  <lee[)  ani:'uisli,  he  found  jx-aee  in  Methodist  idea>  hetore 
he  lieard  ;i  Methodist  ])reaeher  or  read  a  Methodist  pul)li(at  ion. 
Heeoniimr  curate  at   Ilawortli,  he  joined    Wesley,  and,  in  an  orl)it 


)f  1 


ol  ins  own,  lie 


foil 


owed 


\\ 


eslev 


)laii.- 


■(  ii'iiiisliaw"s  circuit- 


served   man\'  towns    ni   his 


d    tlie    li 


Hi 


served   hy  "  ( iriiushaw 's   Preacher^ 

region,  and  he  had  his  classes,  love-leasts  and  I  lie  like,  iiis 
lahoi's,  e\-eii  in  these  evan<>'(diziiiu;' years,  were  notaltle.  He  ti'av- 
eled  his  two  circuits  every  two  weeks,  often  preachini:"  thirty 
times  a  week.  In  the  four  hamlets  coiii|)osini:'  his  parish,  he 
jireaclied  four  times  a  month,  liesides  his  regular  church  services  ; 
and  also  a  nieetinii'  at  his  i)arsonaii'e,  each  inorniiiir.  when  he  was 
at  home,  Jle  would  even  preach  at  the  doors  ot"  those  who  iie<r- 
lected  church.  "  Vou  shall  hear  me  at  home."  I'lidcr  hi< 
jireachinu"  many  melted  and  lay  for  dead,  as  was  so  often  thei-ase 
with  those  listenini''  to  the  jireaehers.  These  latter  he  loved  and 
served  with  all  his  heart.  He  entertained  them  at  his  house,  huilt 
for  them  a  chapel,  and  treated  them  with  all  himiility  and  i:cnci- 
osity.  A^'llen  A\'eslev  or  Wliitetield  visited  Haworth.  he  rallii'd 
all  the  region,  erect iiiii'  a  platform  outside  the  elmrch  for  the 
preacher,  and  administeriiiu'  tlu'  sacrament  to  successive  thronu's 
inside  after  tiie  sermon.  He,  with  \\'esley,  had  some  taste  of  the 
rudeness  of  niohs,  hut  with  Itoth  it  fell  out  for  the  help  of  the 
(iospel,  and  (iriiushaw  was  known  as  Arclihishop  ol"  \'orkshire. 

Soon  after  this,  Charles,  after  a  most  L^at  ifyinii-  tour  in  A\'ales, 
where,  at  St.  »Fust.  alter  the  inoh  had  rule<l,  and  the  cliaptd  had 
lain  eiiihtcH'ii  luonths  in  ruin,  he  (|nietly  restored  the  iireai-hing, 
had  another  territic  slruiriile  at  l)evi/.es.  Of  these  we  need  no 
loiiU'cr  speak  [larlicularly.  Kvery  hattle  was  a  scene  of  violence, 
meekness,  coura«jre,  and  victory. 


n 


i 


■itit 
I" 


[| 


<»..;3'! 


.1'  '>* 

III   !) 


W 
B 

ti     1 
'••it'! 


!  I 


i:\-2 


J'Ik'    .S/iiri/    ()/'  Mcthnilis 


III . 


Maniiii(lul<(i  (iwviinc  wms  a  true  prince  of  W!il(\s.  lie  lived  in 
a  stately  way  at  (iartli,  with  ehaplain  and  servants,  a  larire 
family,  and  many  a  uuest.  ^^'llen  Ilai'ris  had  preached  near 
(Jarth,  (Jwy.me,  as  mau'istrate,  proposcMl  to  arrest  him  as  an  in- 
cendiary, in  Church  and  State.  "But  1  will  hear  him  myself 
Ix'fore  1  conunit  iiim."  He  was  deeply  alfected  under  the  sermon, 
and  "thouiiht  the  preacher  resend)led  one  of  the  Apostles."  At 
the  close  he  went  and  took  Ilai'ris  by  the  hand,  told  him  his  dis- 
appointment, asked  his  pardon,  l)ade  him  Godspeed,  and  invited 
him  to  his  mansion  for  su|)per.  lie  was  a  warm,  irenerous  man. 
helpinii-  in  many  ways  the  irood  work,  and  i;ivin<r  the  itinerants 
a  home  and  restini:-i)lace. 

Here,  .Vpril  S,  174!»,  Charles  became  the  husl)and  of  Sarah 
Ci Wynne.  I'erronet,  N'icar  of  Shoreham,  venerable  friend  of  all 
the  ])arties,  had  ad\ised  the  marriai>'e.  John  i){iiciated  at  the 
ceremony  and  "was  the  happiest  })erson  amoni>'  us."'  It  was  a 
fitting  and  hap])v  union.  Mrs.  Wesley's  home  was  fixed  at  liris- 
tol.  She  was  in  full  harmony  with  her  hus))and"s  callinu"  and 
tem]ier.  She  a])preciated  the  heroes  of  every  degree,  and  such  as 
Melsoii  and  his  brethren  were  W(dcome  at  her  house.  Often  trav- 
elinir  with  lier  husband,  she  made  herself  dear  to  the  women  of 
the  societies,  and  strenji'tlicned  the  hands  of  her  husband. 

Mrs.  (trace  Hurray,  a  lady  of  culture  and  education  added  to 
brilliant  natural  uifts,  had  been  in  charge  of  Wesley's  house  at 
Newcastle.  She  had  also  been  his  "right-hand"  in  organizing 
his  societies  of  women,  lioth  in  England  and  Ireland.  Wesley 
had  hoped  that  she  would  be  his  wife  ;  but,  while  he  lingered,  she 
became  engaged  to  John  Bennet,  a  lay  preacher.  Wesley's  suf- 
ferings were  severe,  but  she  would  not  break  her  engagement. 
Her  husband  left  the  Methodists  :  but,  afterAvards,  during  a  wid- 
owhood of  fifty  years,  she  had  class-meetings  in  her  own  house- 
Her  dvini:'  words  A\ere  :   "  Peace  Thou  givest  me."     Both  Wesley 


I 


The  F'irst   Crniirrt^nce, 


133 


i 


and  I'.crsclf  socincd  to  count  "nliiit  miulit  liavo  boon"  as  a  bitter 
loss.  IIo  marriod  a  ladv  of  oxocllont  diaractor,  but  so  unsuitalde 
to  him  as  to  mako  nis  marriairo  tho  strauiio  niistako  and  niistbrt- 
une  of  ni.s  lifo.  His  kindnos'^  and  cait'  of  Mrs.  Alurray,  after 
her  marriaire,  jmd  his  high  regard  for  her  husband,  proved  well 
his  ciiivalrous  piety. 


TAUVTON   WESLEVAJf  COLLE*.E,  K.'.'GLANU,  ES  "AULISUiiU  iO*-; 


!     •<<;•■ 


;{ 


ntk 


!'■! 


T^'ymmm 


P 


CHAPTER  Vni. 


I^;    ll^ 


^Irtlux] is)n  ill    TveJand. 

,()K  llii'cc  liuiidrcd  yoars  tliis  uiiliajijn' land 
has  hccii  the  scandal  and  i)('r])l('xily  of  its 
rulers,  the  home  of  oppression,  disorder 
and  misery.  \\'esley  liad  taken  tlie  world 
for  his  parish,  and,  as  soon  as  his  work  was 
eleai'ini:-  itself  from  danirers  in  Kni^land, 
ho  Mas  anxious  to  do  s(imethin<r  for  Ire- 
land. In  1747,  he  looked  at  the  ease. 
1T(^  t'ound  not  one  in  a  hundi'ed  of  the  na- 
tivcvs  had  left  the  reliuion  of  their  fathers. 
The  Proti'stanls  were  plants  urown  abroad. 
"And  no  wonder,  when  the  I'l-otestants  can  tind  no  better  way  to 
eon\  ert  thoni  than  penal  laws  and  acts  ot'  Parliament  !''  ]iisliop 
l>erkelev  had  alread\  suiin'csted  that  persons  conversant  with  low 
lit"e.  and  the  Irish  tongue,  and  the  first  jjrinciples  of  reliL^ion, 
niiiiht  mix  with  the  connnon  people,  12'el  their  conlidence,  do  them 
good,  and  hrinu'  them  to  the  church.  Sonu'thinii;  like  this  already 
was  there  in  tlu'  ^Mendicants  of  the  Komish  Church.  AVhcn  "\Ves- 
lev,  haviuL^  alreadv  set  at  woi'k  in  Knii'hind  what  Bei'koloy  suir- 
iiested,  came  to  li'cland.  Protestantism  was  feehle  and  waninir. 
His  success  we  shall  fmd  hut  moderate,  yet,  without  liim.  Protest- 
antism would  havt'  vanished  iVom  the  island. 

lieaching  Dublin,  Aui:'.  !>,  1747,  he  i)reached  that  day  at  St. 
Mary's  to  "as  eay  smd  careless  a  coni:re|L>'at ion"  as  he  had  ever 
seen.     The  curate,  with  /he  Ai'chhishop,  wished  no  lay  preachers. 


M 


iiiii 




I: 


"11 

( 


n  \ 


.1 


(  -    .: 


•  111 

ItMlli  ■ 


if 


¥1 


'i  ; 

III. 


.  .  I  '■■■ 

m 


U      ■' 


'.]■ 


■f  "i:  rl), 


I    ■ 

'  i' 


! 


!     'i 


ir 


*'  i 


I 


136 


T/ic  IStovj  of  ^Itdiudlsiii. 


\Ve,sloy  proceeded  independently.  \rilliiiins,  a  lay  preacher 
from  England,  had  formed  a  society  of  three  hundred.  "Wesley 
fomid  these  "strong"  in  the  faith,  docile  ;;nd  cordial.  lie  preach- 
ed for  two  weeks  to  crowds  at.  tlu!  chapel,  who  gav(»  him  a  politcj 
hearing.  Tie  was  pleased,  and  tliought,  Iho  prospect  better  thai» 
in  London  itself.  Yet  h(>  saw  1h(>  need  of  caic — "these  eordiai 
people  are  ('(jually  susceptil)le  ol'  good  or  of  ill  im])rcssions  !" 

Atter  two  weeks  he  returned,  and  soon  Charles  came  over. 
Meanwhile  the  Celtic  ardor  had  blazed,  and  m  a  genuine  Ii-ish  not, 
with  its  noiso  and  lightings,  litid  wrecked  tho  chapel,  made  a  hon 
fire  of  its  contents,  and  threatened  to  kill  the  society.  Tho 
mayor  couhl  do  nothin,:^;  the  grand  jury  favored  the  rioters. 
"Swaddlers"  was  tho  Irish  for  Methodists.  It  was  caugiit  from 
a  Christmas  sermon,  by  a  ]>()))ish  hearer,  wlio  thought  '^-waddlillg 
clothes"  a  Protestant  d(nic(i  to  ridicules  Iho  infant  Savioui".  Even 
tho  children  shouted  this.  Every  day  Charles  preached  in  thu 
parks,  and  one  or  more  were  killed  by  the*  mob,  for  an  Irish  mob 
is  bloodier  than  an  Enulish.  ^Vt  last  tho  Gosijcl  subdued  them. 
"I  luivo  never  iit  thu  Foundry  seen  a  congregation  more  respect- 
ful than  on  Dublin  green."  The  prayers  and  sol)s  of  tho  people 
almost  drowned  his  voice.  lie  ]:)reached  every  day,  and  even 
five  times  a  day.  IIo  l)uilt  a  ])etter  chapel,  and,  as  they  came 
into  it  out  of  u^reat  tri1)ulati()n,  thev  had  a  dav  of  "solenm  reioic 
ing  in  ho[)o  of  Tils  coming  to  wipe  all  tears  trom  our  eyes." 

lie  heard  of  awakenings  in  other  places.  The  Irish  love  ot 
song  and  music  served  him  well,  and  even  Catholic  children  caught 
and  sung  liis  hymns,  or  whistled  his  tunes.  Hundreds  camo  to 
be  charmed  by  ^lethodis/;  sinuiim-,  who  would  as  readilv  have 
gone  tc  hear  Caodi  O'Learv,  or  Turloiih  O'Carolan,  the  last  Irish 
bards. 

At  Wexford,  one,  who  with  his  sj)alpeens  was  to  wreck  a  barn 
where  a  meetlnji"  was  held,  hid  in  a  sack  within  the  barn  tc  watch 


m 

^^iL.uu. 

M('f/>ni/is7n    in    TrcJniiil. 


1.-. 


>  i 


I  ' 


;iM<l  uivt'  them  >i'rM:i!.  The  >iiiy,iM<;  i-liitriucd  liiin,  mikI  he  must 
hear  that.  Then  caiuo  tlio  ])fayor,  uiidt-r  wliicli  lu^.  I'oai'i'd  (»ut 
with  remorse  and  trellll»lillL^  I'hc^  people  tliouuht.  Satan  was  in 
the  sack  I  If  was  pidled  oil',  and  (iiere  was  a  weepinu'.  prayinir 
Irishman  I  lie  was  soundly  eonverted.  At  Tyn-ei  Pass  u 
yreat  work  l>eu:an.  At  Athlone  was  a  moh,  and  the  dragoons  in- 
terfered. At  IMiilipstown  the  drauoons  tlieniselves  liad  a  soeietv. 
"All  turned  from  darkness  toliirht."'  ![<•  felt  that  ^Fethodisin  wa:^ 
f.jrly  planted  in  Iicland. 

John  eamo  ovi'r,  and  his  Journal  shows  how  truly  h(^  saw  the 
Irish  eharacler.  Tlie  ])eopIe  \\vv{\  eoi'dial  and  polite,  full  of  L'ood- 
will  and  desires.  "The  Avaters  s[)read  too  wide  to  he  deep.  I 
/ound  not  one  undei'  very  slronir  conviction,  nmch  less  had  any 
iittained  th(^  know  le(li:'(M)f  salvation  in  hearing  thirty  sermons." 
lie  did  not  ho[)e  for  any  rapid  success  of  Methodism,  though  ho 
believed  it  was  the  land's  sore  need. 

As  he  was  j)reaching  at  .Vthlone,  to  a  vast  luimlier  of  Roman- 
ists, their  i)riest  came,  and  "droves  tluMU  away  like  a  tlock  of 
?hoep."'  Wesley  preached  "the  terrors  of  theTiord,  in  the  strong- 
est manner  I  was  ahle."  They  ate  evei'y  word,  yet  seemed  to  di- 
gest none.  They  were  an  "  immeasural»ly  loving  people."  A\'heii 
ho  lel"t,  thei'e  was  such  wee[)ing  as  he  nevei*  heard  hetore.  still, 
"I  see  nothing  as  yet  l)ut  drops  l)etore  a  shower." 

C)rganizing  Ireland  with  societies,  he  returned  al'ter  three 
months  to  Kngland. 

Charles,  coming  over,  saw  all  signs  of  jirospority,  only  he  fear- 
ed it  was  shallow.  Of  two  hundred  members  at  Cork,  "all  seeni- 
L'd  awakened,  liut  not  one  of  them  justilied."  "How  t"ew  will 
own  God's  messengers  when  the  sti'cam  turns  I"  He  seemed  to 
read  the  warm,  gay,  changeful  and  iier^-e  Irish  i-haracter. 

The  storm  burst  over  Cork.  Hardly  had  Charles  gone,  when 
one  lUitler,  a  hallad-singer,   with   clerical  gown   and   Uible,   evi- 


M 


.!r 


II;: 


4  ■ 
■ 


! 
■■"•I 
1. 1 

.1 


'■i  ; 


,;;!> 


i. 

I. 


* '  ,i 


Ola 


m 


I 


1. 

f- 

I 

1 ' 

1 

i  ■ 

1 

1   • 

1 

s     „J 

i;}.s 


77/''    Stitvi/  iif  M(i}it)ilix)n, 


(Icntly  ;i|)|)i'(no(l  In  llio  mayor,  boiran  jji-oadiiiii:  anaiiisf  tho 
Mclliodisls.  Tlicir  pci'sons  wen;  Ufssailcd,  and  tlicii'  houses  torn 
down:  llio  mayor  sayiiiir  that,  under  his  rule,  "the  })riests  were 
protcetod,  the  Metliodists  not."  llutUn"  and  his  ^ranus  in-ied : 
"Five  pounds  tor  the  head  (»t'  a  S\vad(Uer  I"  Tlie  urand  jury 
threw  out  all  depositions  airainst  the  i-'ioters,  and  even  presented 
Charles,  and  nine  of  his  assoeiates (eight  preachers,  and  one  who 


PARSON  nUTLEU'S  ATTACK  O.V  TlIK  MinitoniST  CIIAI'KL  AT  COUK,  IRELAND. 

entertauied  them),  as  vauahonds,  prayinu'  their  transportation. 
Tins  hrouiihl  them  to  the  Kini>""s  court,  liutler  was  the  tii-st  wit- 
ness. "  \\\\\\i  is  your  callinii?"'  "  I  sinu'  l)allads."  ''■  Why,  hero 
are  six  <:entlemen  indicted  as  vagabonds,  and  the  first  accuser  is 
a  vapibond  by  prot'cssion  I"  said  the  judge.  The  second  accuser 
was  put  under  contempt  of  court,  and  the  jireachiM's  (-Icarcd, 

\\\  17.')0.  another  not  rulv>d  \\\  Cork,  but  at  leuglli  came  peace. 


mal 


ins 


Bea 


r.' 


Mf'tliinHfiiii    hi    Ii'chiiiil. 


i;ji) 


A  lai'ir*'  cliapcl  was  huill  ;  \\'('sl('y  was  entertained  at  the  mayor's 
mansion,  and  he  was  even   atVa'id  that  the  circuit   miiiht    enervate 


lis   i)reaeliel': 


W 


>)>! 


ncniarkahle  conversions  occiirrec 


In  Antrim,  a  most    vicu 


)ll.S 


deat-mute  was  converted,  and,  when  the  preacher  came,  lie  would 
run  tVoiii  house  to  house  witli  the  news.  He  refused  to  work  on 
the  Lord's  day,  and  h'aruini:'  the  sa«'red  jjromiscs,  and  their  places 
in    the    Hil)le,  he    would    put    his  tinirer   on  tliem    "with  a  wild, 


screaiuinir  voice,  and  lloods  ot"  tear: 


^'lolcnce  still   liroke  out. 


and  .lolin  M(d>urnev,  at  I'JinisUillcn,  was  \\\v  tirst  Irish  martvr, 
under  (  ircunistanccs  much  hUc  tIio>e  attending  the  fate  of  Thomas 
Beard,  our  !irst  martyr  in  I-Jigland. 

A\'eslcy  declares  that  the  Irish  were  the  politest  jx'oph!  he  (!Vor 
knew,  and  that  courtesy  in  their  cabins  was  as  perfect  as  at  the 
courts  ot  London  and  Paris. 

A  remarkable  man  was  soon  raised  up  to  the  front  rank  of  the 
AVesTeyMU  worthies.  riioiuas  ^\'al^h,  a  strictly  trained  (  atholic, 
but  of  active  mind  and  longini:'  heart,  stood,  in  ITl!',  on  the  pa- 
rade-ground at  Limerick,  to  hear  a  i)reacher,  Swindells. 

He  iiad  attained  much  in  study,  had  lived  l)y  the  straight 
rules  of  his  Church,  and  yet  found  no  rest.  .\n  older  l)r()ther  had 
])ecome  Protestant  ;  he  also,  after  an  agony,  study  and  discussion, 
did  the  same,  and  in  his  eighteenth  year,  at  one  in  the  morning,  after 
a  long  interview  with  his  l)roth(U'  and  others,  lie  fell  upon  his  knees 
and  I'or  ihc  tirst  time  ])raycd  to  none  1)ut  God.  Yet  he  tenderly 
loved  his  Komish  friends  and  he  found  no  clear  rest  for  his  heavy- 
laden  heart.  At  li'iigth,  in  a  ^lethodist  meeting,  he  was  set  free 
by  llini  "who  cometh  from  Edom  and  Avith  dyed  garments  from 
P>ozrali."'  Now  was  in  Ireland  a  saint  indeed,  in  this  world  l)ut 
not  of  it,  such  as  no  recorded  saint  suri)asses.  lie  knew  L'lsh, 
he  mastered  Knglish,  Latin,  (ireek  and  Hebrew,  all  that  ho 
might  fully  know  and  teach  the  Bible.      ITe  entered  the  ministry 


I 
I!"  *' 

Ill       • 


i 


nl 


V 

'.1 

'   •  '\ 

.    1 

'1,, 

... 

u 

.    ''\ 

'] 


\  i; 


^HT" 


II 


'  I, 


h 


11 


Mrf/i(ii/is)ii    ill    /I'l/iinif. 


141 


wltli    ;i\V('   Mild    Iicsit.'iiicy.      "  liCird   .I»'<ii^,     he   Tlioii    iii\     -iiii   mikI 
still'!"    r;iii    lii>     priiycr.      He    wnlkril    ihiity    iiiilfs    to    lii>     tirst 


ii|i|i()iiitiM('ii 


I.      It 


\\:i>  III  !i  I»;ini,  :iii(l  lie  \\:i^  licard  w  itli  cdii 


tnidi 


tions,  luockiTV  aiid  tciirs.  Soon  In-  was  prcacliiiii:'  daily  to  multi- 
tudes. TIm'  Ii'ixli,  addrcsscil  in  their  own  toii;^iif,  smote  their 
bn'iists.  Mild  hciriiiH"^  under  his  word  knelt  in   the  >treet>  to   |»ra\'. 


A   iiat 


ive,  with   whom   he  fenioust rale<l   in    I'!ii:^ii.>li.  swore  to  ki 


iimi.  >\'al>ji  reproNcd  him  in  Irisli.  "\\'hy  didst  thou  not  so 
8|H'ak  to  iiie  in  the  Iteii'imiiiie?"  "  |  jet  hjni  know  in  Iri>li  wliat 
Christ  had  done  tor  sinners,  and  he  departed  with  ji  l)rokeii 
heurt."  The  Irish  loniiue  is  pathos  itselt'.  W'/hh  i/mi  jtlrinl j'nr 
ijoiir  llj'f,  jihdil  in  Irish.  1 1  is  task  was  t  he  harder  for  his  heiiiir 
rejLTMi'ch'd  as  an  apostMle  iVoiii  IJoine.  and  he  had  many  a  iiioh  to 
faee.  ()iieprie>t  told  his  people  that  \\'mU1i  was  dead  and  that 
this  preat'her  was  the  (h'\  il  in  Jiis  >-liape  I  Vet  the  common  peoph' 
would  run  to  hear  him,  and  under  his  sermons  call  with  tears  up- 
on the  X'irii'iu,  the  Apostles  and  all  tlu'  Saints.  His  work  aiuoiig 
his  own  peo[»le  was  wonderful. 

Wesley  sent  him  to  London,  wheri'  lie  spoke  1o  crowds  of 
eountryiueu  in  the  ton^^ue  in  which  tin  were  horn.  ])ourinu'  out 
upon  theui  the  tidiness  and  eiieri^y  of  a  ::low  in<:-  soul.  A\'esley 
says:  "I  do  iu)t  remeuiher  e\er  to  have  known  a  ])reaclu'r.  who, 
in  so  lew  years  as  he  >'omaiued  upon  earth,  was  an  instrument  of 
converting''  so  many  siiuicrs."  lie  labored  for  nine  years,  a  Iturn- 
uiu  and  a  shininti"  liii'ht,  wonderful  in  his  knowledii'c'  of  Serii)tiire, 
ill  his  saintly  livinji",  in  his  ehxjueuce.  He  died  after  much 
lucutal  suHerinu',  hut  at  evenini!'  time  it  was   liu'ht. 

By  such  a  man,  and  his  nssoeiatos,  Methodism  was  rooted  in 
Ireland,  \\'esley  often  visited  tuid  traversed  il,  and  t'ully  six  of 
hib  toilsome,  hopeful  years  were  s])en1  in  lahors  there. 


! 


!■! 


I 


4 


H 

t'l 

,  oi» 

'  II 

1 

1 

•  ' 

Mt 

1"   * 

H'      1 

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•••?«< 

' 

';|j 


,;:! 


i 


I 


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'■.M 


'i. 
'Ik 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Whili'jicid  Once  More. 

1744,    AVliitoiiold  came  airiiin  to  America.     He 

reached  "i'ork,  in-  ^Nlaiiie,   in  i'eehlc    health,  and 

after    one    of    his    sermons    lie    sank    away  and 

lonulit  himself  dyin^.     His  wc^epitiir  friends  said: 

is  ixonc."     iMoody,  pastor  at  York,  cared  for  him 

-welcomed  him  "  in  the   name   of  all   the  faithful 

listers  of  New  England."     The  faculty  of  Harvard 

many  cl(M"<iTmen  did  not  hid  him  welcome.     '"Tes- 

lics'"  foi'  and  airainst  him  were  published.      Eanat- 

!id  risen  in  his  ahseiicc,  hut  many,  evon  i)astors, 

were  converts  hy  his  t'ormei'  lahoi's. 

He  was  jit  one  amonii'  them  as  a  sun  above  the  hori- 
/ion  :  his  couLri'Ciiat  ions  were  lai'iix*  conv(>rsions  occuri'cd  ;  ho 
sj)()ke  on  occasions  of  ])ul)lie  intci'cst,  tmd  I'cuaiiied  all  his  power 
uith  the  ])eoph'.  They  jiroposi'd  to  l)uild  him.  at  Jioston,  "the 
lariTcst  ])lMce  of  worshi|)  ever  seen  in  America."'  At  I'hiladeli)hia 
lie  was  oH'crcd  four  hundred  ])ounds  salary  and  half  the  year  for 
laI)ors  abroad.  In  A'ii'ginia.  his  i)rint<Hl  se.nnoiL>^,  read  without 
prayer  (thci'c;  was  nolxx^y  dared  pray  in  pubru-),  had  jn'oduced 
<'onviction  and  awaU  nini:' in  sevoral  tounis.  He  savs  with  I'ov : 
"ThctJospcl  is  nioviiii:  southward;  the  harves-  is  })romising; 
the  time  of  the  singing  ot  birds  is  come!'  'Thousands  and 
thousands  arc  ready  tc  hear  the  (Jospel,  and  scarce  anyl)ody  goes 
out 'hut  myself.  N'ow  is  the  time  foi  stirring.'  Struck  with  a 
l)urnin<j:  fev(>r,  he  omitted  one  sei-mon  ;  "Jiut  1  hope  yet  to  die 
ill  the  ])ul|)it  or  soon  after  I  come  out  of  it."     80  iie  did. 


(I 


i  *!■  ^ 


-I 


itct'i 


■hi  o 


lice. 


M 


lie  Avrotc  iVom    Xortli  CaroliiiM  llinl, 


ore. 


witli    a    he    V  wca 


nul 


cra/y,"  lie  was  liunlini:'  lor  sinners  in  llicsc   "uuii'o-i)'  ii/.cd  wilds.'' 
It  Avas  with  llic  people  as  if  an  anu'el  ol"  (iod  were  \isitini:'  llieni. 


As  a  "(hinir  man."  1.  •  went  to  the  Ijernuida- 


'11 


lei'e,  as  an  inva- 


lid, he  nreached  t  wice  or  more  daily.  One  I'amy  week  he  ])reaeh- 
('(1  "l.iit  tive  times  in  jii'ivate  houses."  His  motto  \\  as.  "  I'^aint 
vet  i)nrsuinir."  and  the  crowds  wc 

•  1  I 


•re  "all'eeted 


as   HI  (lav 


t  o\d 


ilt    1 


lome 


.M'ter   three    months    he  sailed  for  Kniiland.  ])ut,  at 


his   last   sermon,  the  audii'nee    wei)t    aloud,  the   ncLiroes   outside 
were  sol)f)ini:-.  and  he  Joined  in  the  })revailinir  sorrow. 

Ills  friend  Harris  had  Iteen  lahorinjr  in  Wales  with  tin  ener<xy 
like  that  of  AVosley  aiw'  his  \\h\\,  and  he,  too.  had  met  his  share  of 
perseeutions.  Lady  Huntinjj-don  had  taken  a  tour  throuirh  that 
rojrion  with  two  nohle  ladies,  the  Hastiniis,  and  seviM'al  preaeli- 
ers.  Sh(^  had  j)reaclu>(l  four  or  live  times  daily,  and  her 
journey  was  a  }>i-ouress  of  the  (iospel.  At  Treveeea,  ^^rciit 
congrejration.s  Avere  had  for  seNcral  days,  and  "  were  moved  by 
the  truth  as  a  forest  l»y  the  wind." 

She  met  ^^'hitetield  at  London.  IMie  <rreat  preaeher  entered 
at  onee  ui)on  his  old  career,  flohn  Newton,  risin<jf  at  four  to 
i»et  to  the  service  at  tlvi',  used  to  see  .Moortielils  het'ore  davli<xlit  as 
full  of  the  lanterns  of  the  woi'shipers  as  the  Haymarket  (the 
street  of  the  «/i'eat  theater)  was  fidl  of  ilamheaux  on  o[)era 
niiihts.      "  I  bless  (Jod  that  1  have  lived  in  his  time." 

liondon  was  too  small  for  \\'hiteti»'ld.  He  went  for  tlu^  third 
time  to  Scotland,  where  the  stern  Synods  were  complaininir  that 
he  had  not  preached  u\)  the  Soleiim  Leairue  and  ( "oven;. nt .  "I 
preach  up  the  Covenant  of  (irace."  said  he.  Amouir  his  vast 
coni^reirations  were  many  who  told  him  how  his  former  pi'caehing 
had  led  to  llieir  convei's'ion. 

On  h'ls  way  to  Londo'i  he  had  his  usual  series  of  crowds,  sensa- 
tion.^ and  victories.     At  Exeter,  a  man  stootl  aiming  a  stone  at 


li>«f 


'i! 


r 


Mill  ; 

.i'f!M 

llltl  >  I 

Ml 


ii'-i 


iir- 


Bit 


m  ^'  * 


'J  ■  / 


n 


144 


7/:e  Story  of  Methodism. 


his  hciul :  just  tis  li(>  was  to  throw,  the  Mord  struck  hhu.  He 
huni1)ly  souirht  the  preacher:  "Sir,  I  came  here  to  break  your 
head,  hut  God  has  In-okeu  my  heart."  lie  turned  and  lived  a  true 
Christian. 

At  London,  Whiteriehl  couhl  not  remain.  He  was  too  weak 
to  liohl  a  })en !  Like  tlie  Baptist,  he  seemed  hut  a  "Voice." 
He  started  for  Portsmouth  and  "Wales,  and  in  eight  hundred 
miles  sjjoke  lo  a  hundred  thousand  hearers.  At  times,  twenty 
thousand  were  present  and  weeping.  "I  think  we  had  not  one  dry 
meeting."  At  Exeter,  Bishoi)  Lavington,  the  most  hitter  ot  his 
opponents,  ga/ed  with  his  clergy  on  ten  thousand  people  sway- 
iuir,  troni1)lin<r  and  weepins:  under  the  "Word,  while  "Jesus  rode 
forth  in  His  chariot  of  salvation."  At  London,  frequent  earth- 
(juakes  were  occurring;  Charles  and  "Whiteficld  were  there,  and, 
ill  the  general  alarm,  they  comforted  the  people.  On  the  morning 
of  ]March  8,  1750,  Chai-les,  at  tive,  was  rising  in  the  Foundry  pul- 
])it  to  preach.  A  shock  jarred  all  London,  and  the  Foundry' walls 
triMuhled.  The  frightened  people  shook,  but  he  cried:  "There- 
fore will  we  not  fear  though  the  earth  be  removed.  The  Lord  of 
Hosts  is  wilh  us."  His  Avords  of  lofty  faith  and  cheer  sliook 
their  souls,  but  dispcllcHl  their  fears.  The  Foundry  became  a 
place  of  refuge.  AVhilc  coaches  and  people  hurried  from  the  city 
as  if  it  were  struck  Mith  the  wrath  of  God,  "our  people  were 
calm  and  <]uiet  as  -it  any  other  tim(\"  Crowds  came  to  the 
Foundry  at  night  ;  AVhitetield  preached  at  midnight  in  Hyde 
Park,  to  fear-stricken  nudtitudes,  and  "the  word  of  God  nrevail- 


d. 


It  was  a  time  for  Charles  t 


o  snii; 


This  awful  (uxl  is  ours!' 


and  the  people  felt  that  the  God  of  the  evangelists  "  rides  on  the 
whirlwind  and  directs  the  storm." 


% 


€4 


^2 


% 


Cj 


criAPrEK  X. 


Op 


^moDs  <ni< 


J  E 


i'onnmtcx. 


CA'^\i,\\\  I'ollows  headway  in  the  nat- 
ural order  of  thinus.  Methodism  was 
beeominu'  rieh  in  all  resourees — in  men 
of  gifts  and  graces  as  laborers  ;  in  a 
nienibership  numerous,  energetic  and 
^v,  devoted  ;  in  growing  material  i)i'o))erty  ; 
'f  in  tlic  respect,  willing  or  unwilling,  of 
the  nation.  It  was  now  time  for  all 
is  to  be  rounded  into  form. 
At  the  Second  Conference  it  was  asked  :  "  Is 
/^,  not  the  will  of  our  irovernors  a  law  V ''  "  No  :  not 
)^^^!;^^  of  any  governor.  If  a  Bishop  wills  me  not  to 
preach,  his  will  is  no  law  to  me.  If  he  produce 
a  law,  I  am  to  obey  God  rather  than  man." 
Freedom  from  man,  loyalty  to  (iod,  thus  lay 
it  the  foundation.  ''  Is  Episcopal,  Presbyterian 
or  Independent  (Congregational,  in  ^\/iien'cif)  Church 
government  most  agreeable  to  reason?"  To  this  was 
given  a  careful  answer.  It  presents  an  outline  of  the 
origin  of  Church  government,  telling  how  an  Apostle  needed  a 
Pastor  ;  a  Pastor,  Helpers  or  Deacons  ;  then  Presl)vters  or  Elders, 
and,  tinally,  a  Bishop  or   Overseer  of  them  all. 

All  these  work  together  by  love  and  consent,  and  any  may,  at 
any  tinu',  leave  the  rest  "for  the  glory  of  God  and  the  good  of 


"111 

I'll 


U   tut 


Hi! 


'It. 
lit  I 


in '.J 

II'    i 


M! 


T^r 


T^^ 


,  y  I'll 


I  lt^^ 


14(; 


7'//r    Shii'i/    "/'   Mitlnxl isiii 


tlicii'  own  >«()uls."  "  IIow  >li!ill  we  ti'cjit  tli()>('  wlio  IcMVc  us?" 
"  UcwMrc  ot"  Itittcnicss  :  talk  with  tliciii  at  least  once  or  t wire  :  if 
they  persist,  consider  tlieni  as  dead  and  name  tlieni  no  more 
except  in  ])raver."  Nolliinii"  coidd  l»e  more  liberal,  yet  A\'eslcv 
was  liiiili-cliurch.  lie  lielicNcd  in  ordination  tracealile  to  the 
.\po>tles:  in  a  })riestly  ministry  as  alone  entitled  to  administer 
tile  Sacraments,  and  in  the  utter  distinctnoss  of  oilice  in  Uisjiop, 
Priest  and  Deacon.  ( )n  tlii'se  matters  his  \iews  wei'c  afterwards 
changed.  He  steadily  I)elieved  that  tlie  Cluireh  and  the  Dis- 
senters wouhl  yet  he  so  '•evived  that  his  societies  would  melt  In  a 
lari:"<^'  religious  life  of  the  nation,  and  he  was  willing'  that  all  Ills 
labors  l»e  lost  by  bleiidinu"  ^vith  the  general  (.'liristianity  to  in- 
crease its  warmth  and  ^ olume. 

At  the  third  session,  it  was  asked  by  the  iireat  AVelehman. 
Gwynne,  "  \\\\o  shall  compose  a  Conference?"  "The  preachers 
eonvoniently  at  han<l :  the  most  prudent  and  devoted  leaders  in 
the  town  wlu're  it  is  held,  and  any  ])i()us  and  judicious  strauii'er." 

"  ^^'herein  does  our  doctrine   now  ditler  from  what  it  Avas  at 

Oxford ?■'     "First,   avo   then  knew  nothinir  of  the  riiiliteousness 

of  faith  in  justification  :  nor.  second,  of  the  nature  of  faith  itsidf, 

as  imi)lyini>'  consciousness  of  pardon."     To  this  was  added  :  "  We 

mean,  tirst.  that  i)ard()n   (salvation  l)eiiun)    is  received  by  faith, 

and  ])roduces  woi'ks  :  second,  that  holiness  (salvation  continued) 

is  faiili   woi'kiui"   by  love:  third,  tha!  heaven  (salvation  tinishe(I) 

is  the  reward  of  this  faith.      Or.  in  the  u"low'iii_i>"  lines  of  (Jluirlcs, 

concerninii"  the  believer: 

'*  Into  hinisL'lt:  he  all  receives 
Pardon  and  holiness  and  heaven.*" 

After  these  few   doi'trines  were   detined.  came  the  framinir  of 

a  ])ersonal  force  to  woi'k   the   lisini:'  system.      \\v  have  seen  how 

itinerants,  local  helpers,  who  were  anchored  at  their  homes,  and 

leaders,  came  to   be.     They  rose  up  as  (rod's  own  means.     They 


♦ 


Opf'uions  and    Eroiioun'cs. 


147 


wore  soon  roducod  to  a  system.  "How  sliall  we  test  those  who 
think  they  urc  moved  of  the;  Holy  (ihost  and  esdh'd  of  God  to 
preach?"  To  this  earnest  (|uestion  was  answered:  First, 
"Have  ihev  the  irraee  of  exiierienee? "  Second,  "Have  thev 
^dfts  of  nnih'rstanding  and  ntteranee?"  Tiiird,  "Have  tliey 
fruits  y  Tile  coneurrcncc  of  atHrmativc^  answers  was  taken 
as  proof  of  the  Avill  and  moving  of  tlie  Holy  (ihost,  and  so  it  is 
still  taken  in  all  the  (h)main  of  .Methodism.  Yet  sueh  were 
preachers  oidy  ;  they  were  not  ordained  as  deacons  or  priests. 
That  seemed  too  "  stately  ""  for  the  present :  perhaps  "  Providence 
would  open  the  way."  "Kxhorters "'  now  arose.  They  must 
have  a  note  from  the  ])reacher,  renewed  each  year,  iriviuii'  them 
'"license"'  to  speak  in  the  societies.  The  s\stem  ot  Helpers 
was  now  complete,  and  so  simple,  natural  and  etlicient,  tliat  it 
remains  as  it  was  sti'uck  out  at  first.  Taken  as  training  in 
oratory,  it  could  hardly  he  improved.  The  exhorti>r  becomes  a 
local  preacher,  then  an  itinerant,  according  as  he  is  endowed  and 
makes  the  most  of  his  endowments.  To  stop  at  the  lower  otiiccs 
is  no  disirrace  ;  to  reach  the  hiu'her,  proves  call iujj.'  and  ahilitv. 
Precisely  as  in  military  lii'e,  in  any  life,  merit  must  take  its 
chance,  if  the  system  is  to  have  the  l)est  of  servants  ;  so  Wesley 
tixed  the  })lain  feature  in  his  system  that,  in  the  diversity  of 
gifts,  there  might   be  unity  of  working. 

The  two  j)oints  of  Justification  and  Sanctitication  now  came  to 
he  made  clear.  Their  difficulties  will  always  arise,  for  the  appre- 
hension of  them  depends  mainly  upon  actual  experience.  They 
who  truly  take  the  death  of  Christ  as  the  atonement  for  their 
sins  must  l)e  acce})ted,  "Justified,"  l)efore  the  Most  Worthy 
Judge  Eternal.  That  they  may  A'«o?/"  this  acce|)tance,  was  the 
l)oculiar  point  of  the  Wesleyan  i)reaching:  that  men,  in  that 
full,  hearty,  self  surrender  to  Christ  that  proves  "faith,"  and  that 
asking,  from  which  faith  cannot  he  separated,  may,  by  the  cora- 
10 


ii; 


i 

if-r  ^ 


i'ii ' 


tilt 

III  (11;  ! 
|t»  'If 

in  («l 

It'  ;J 


148 


The  ^'^iii't/  of  Method is))i. 


;  II 


f  i' 


ing  of  tlio  Holy  (iliost  to  thei.'  hearts,  be  cheered  by  iiii  inward, 
unniistakabh'  sens)'  of  ))ardon.  This  is  assurfnire.  Not  every 
believer  has  it,  but  every  believer  vur//  have  it ;  it  is  his  right 
and  })rivileijfe.  AN'esley's  opinion  was  that  every  true  believer 
gains  this  l)efore  leaving  this  world  (unless  he  falls  l)ack  from 
his  faith)  ;  he  urged  that  Huch  may  have  it  at  once,  to  shed 
upon  his  heart  and  way  its  light  and  gladness  and  joy. 

Entire  8anctilication  was  cautiously  treated.  It  was  to  be 
surely  held  as  a  truth  of  Scripture  and  experience.  It  was  not 
to  be  preached  harshlv  or  l)()astinglv,  but  amiablv,  that  it  might 
excite  only  hoi)e,  joy  and  desire.  Above  all,  it  was  not  to  be 
so  put  as  to  make  peoi)le  under-value  ])ardon,  '*  which  is  in- 
expressibly great  and  glorious,  though  there  are  still  greater 
gifts  behind." 

The  "divine  riffht  "  of  Bishops  was  rejected.  "Till  the  middle 
of  Elizabeth's  reign,  (say,  1570,)  all  Bishops  and  clergy  joined  in 
the  services  of  those  whom  no  Bishop  (but  only  presl)yters)  had 
ordained." 

Thus  ideas  of  doctrine  and  usage  slowly  irrew,  and  thev  have 
substantially  remained.  At  the  Conference  of  1747,  there  were, 
besides  regular  clergy  coJiperating,  about  sixty  helpers  engaged 
in  spreading  and  establishing  ]Methodisni  in  the  land. 

For  reasons  already  named — the  ho})e  of  tinally  blending  with 
existing  Churches — no  societies  were  formed  the  next  vear.  The 
result  was  bad.  The  clergy  of  the  Church  neglected  and  al)used 
the  converts  that  came  to  their  care  and  connnunion.  '' AVe  have 
preached  for  more  than  a  year  without  forming  societies,  and 
almost  all  the  seed  has  fallen  bv  the  wavside."  Without 
"societies"  the  preacher  could  not  collect  the  awakened  a[)art 
for  instruction,  nor  could  believers  watch  over  and  help  one 
another.  Wesley  felt  deeply  this  awkward  dependence  of  his 
people  on  clergymen  who  disdained  him  and  his  movement. 


i!    ! 


!,- 


I 


Ojntn'oDs  (Dill   Ecouoinicx. 


14!) 


The  noxt  year  it  was  pi-oposcd  to  niako  tlio  London  society 
the  central  one,  to  whicli  all  slionld  report,  whose  stewards  .should 
receive  annual  collections  nnd  with  these  aid  the  weaker  soci(^tics. 
This  i)lan  pleased  AVi'slcy,  hut  h<!  hesitated,  for  it  tended  to 
separation  from  the:  Church.  He  a})p()inted  an  assistant — as 
distinct  from  hel})er — to  each  of  his  (n(tw)  nine  circuits,  to  taki; 
charge  of  its  societies  and  thus  unify  them — hut  the  Annual 
Conference  grew   rajjidly  to  bc^  the  true  center  of  ^Methodism. 

At  the  Seventh  Conference,  ^Vlarch  ?S,  17')(),  over  ten  years  had 
gone  since  the  foundiuii'  of  Methodism.  Ten  wonderful  years  ! 
The  greatest  Christian  legislator,  the  greatest  Christian  poet,  the 
greatest  Christian  orator,  that  tin;  world  had  seen,  had  risen  and 
used  their  utmost  irifts  and  energies  in  renewing  the  kingdom  of 
Christ.  1'he  lowest  masses  of  the  English  cities,  mines,  col- 
lieries and  rural  districts  had  ertectually  felt  the  plow;!hare  of  the 
Gospel.  It  had  touched  the  highest  classes,  and  the  Countess  of 
Huntingdon  had  l)ecome  the  most  eminent  woman  among  all 
since  woman  was  last  at  the  cross  and  earliest  at  the  grave.  Its 
lay  ministry  had  restored  the  usages  of  Apostolic  times. 
AVhitetield  and  his  Calvinists  had  revived  the  heroic  old  dissent- 
ing Churches.  Wesley  had  a  pertV^cted  and  permanent  organism, 
and  his  circuits  to  Enaland.  Wales  and  Ireland  were  being 
served  l)y  seventy  devout  and  active  men.  "Per  ardua  ad 
astra."  Through  mol)s  and  riots  and  all  annoyances  it  was  com- 
ing to  a  movement  and  working  as  peaceful  as  that  of  the  stars. 
Of  its  literary  an<l  educational  i)r()gress  we  speak  hereafter. 

Those  venerable  men  Avhose  deep  discouragement  was  noted 
could  now  have  spoken  more  cheerfully.  Indeed,  for  eight  of 
these  years.  Watts,  from  his  home  at  Abuey,  had  marked 
the  rising  day.  and  told  out  his  gladness  and  surprise. 
Charles,  his  brother  ])oet  and  his  oidy  superior,  and  Lady 
lluntiuirdon  had  visited  him  and  their  words  had  been  "tuneful 


::l 


'I'l 
"•I 
I" 


i:;n 
n 


^:^' 


lit  Iti   !  I 
l>    il      ' 


H 


■  t 


'i-m 


>il 


I* 

i; 


m 

li 
. 

1 1 


'1'  ' 


i:.o 


y/tf;    >Sf'>fi/   '//'  Ml  fliinl  Isiii . 


sweet."       Doddi'idiiC    welcomed  ||ie   W'olevs  to  .\()rlli!ini|)1()M.  aiul 
fejolcecl  iis  it"  lie  s:iw 

•'  'I'lio  \o\\<r  ('.\|)C'clc(l  (lay  h('<riii, 
Dtiwii  on  llieso  it'iilms  of  woo  and  sin." 


I 


.1   I         il' 


Ut 


II'  II 


ymi\ 


I  . ... 

li  11'  ■  1 


-f: 


!.  li' 


I    I  L'. ,ii 


;i|.i 
iii„„'i 


''1,1 :; 


!l'i      I! 


'I'.'i'i 


1 


!''.ij''l   I 


mir 


r  .,ill:,,| 


!  Mill  I, 


I     '■■'■•'I 


\.MW 


11  il!l 


;!{i 


'J     !i' 


ii'H  i; 


!:    f 


''|I'I:,M!; 


ii; 


iin;';'i  I'l 


i*i/'ii,:4;!'-!l:;i!i' 


'|l;i   'l|:''i;l,|il 


!l'|l|!i 


,r,i   I 


^Kmm 


I  '  ii'i 


"'I'll 

1   I! 


iirii'i'iii"! 


ill  i' 


■'  .■  ■  ■:!  ■  !■    ';lr"":   I 


II 


m. 


i     I'm, 
'1    i    11;:' 


illiii'i!:!. 


I 


Ml' 

llli  l! 


i:i: 


i 


i'  'I  -'liiii;"! 


% 

1  :  i: 

1  '■  ''■ 

III 

'I'l 

1 .:  ;!| 

:  1  l! 

i'l! 

ii'r 

iii'ii' 

i   ii; 

ill   ll 

i 

1     'll 

i ' 

ll.ll' 


IMMi 


n 


w 


llliii 

ihtll  '  ! 


(I 


t'. 

I 

1 

1 

1 

^li 

.Ui 

CilAITKR  XI. 

Prot/nnis  in  Ireland. 

,X  goino-  to  Trcland,  in  IToO,  "Wes- 
ley called  John  Jane  to  aeeoniitany 
him.  Jiine  illustrates  the  itinerant 
service  of  the  |>erio(l.  lie  went  to 
Holyhead,  seven  days  of  joiu'ney,  on 
foot,  startinu'  with  three  shilliniis 
and  arrivinu'  with  a  single  penny, 
fed  and  lodged  on  the  way  in  the 
humble  homes  of  his  brethren.  In  Ireland,  he 
walked,  nnable  to  afford  a  horse,  to  his  prcach- 
ing-|»laces.  Such  a  walk  on  a  hot  day  I)roiight 
a  fever  and  he  sunk  to  his  death.  He  went, 
"with  a  smile  on  his  face,''  saying,  "I  lind  the 
love  of  (Jod  in  Christ  Jesus."  "All  his  clothes 
linen  and  woolen,  stockings,  hat  and  wig  arc 
not  thttught  sulVicient  to  answer  his  funeral  e.\- 
))enses  (which  were  about  nine  dollars).  All 
the  money  he  had  was  Is.  4d.  (thirty-two 
cents),  enough  for  any  unmarried  preacher  of  the  (lospel  to  leave 
to  his  executors."  One  is  reminded  of  the  Franciscans,  both  in 
the  temper  of  the  master  and  the  lidelit}'  of  the  follower. 

At  a  later  visit  to  Ireland,  Wesley  found,  at  Court  Mattress  on  the 
western  coast,  a  conununity  of  (Jermans.  They  had  under  t^ueen 
Anne,  come  from  the  Rhine — a  hundred  and  ten  families — and  in 


i  I 


I*i'(Kjn'sti  in  Jnldiid. 


lo6 


nixtv   vciirs  liad  lu'coinc  luimv.     Tlioiiirli  Protestants   in   tlicir  did 
hoiiic,    tlicv    liad    heroine    sadlv   (lenioi'ali/.i-d.      \\'esle\     and    liis 


d   ott( 


\il    tl 


)ers   preached   oilen   anioni;"    them,   and   to  some   jjnrpost 


I   t( 


liel|) 

j)reaeliin^-lious(>  I'ose  in  tlie  heart  ot"  tlieir  town;  i)rolanity  and 
druid<einiess  disappeared,  and  sneli  eonninniit i«'s  as  tln'irs  were 
hard  to  find,  for  they  were  in(histrion>,  npriLdit  and  devout. 
"How  will  these  poor  loreiiiners  I'ise  up  in  the  day  »»l"  judi:- 
ment  against  those  that  are  ai'ound  ahout  them  I  "'   wrote    Wesley. 

Fromtln'se  ^^'est  Ireland  ( iermans,  as  we  shall  see,  came  Philip 
Knd)nry  and  Barhara  IleeU.  who  intro<lueed  Methodism  into  tin; 
eity  of  New  ^'orU.  thus  plantin<r  it  in  the  heart  ol"  the  New 
AVorld. 

AVeslev's  Ix'st  tVi«>nds  in  Ireland  were  the  soldiers.  At  Limeriek 
sixty  lliirhlanders  joined  the  society,  "and  l»y  theii'  zeal,  accord- 
iniT  to  their  knowledge,  stirred  up  many.  "  'i'he  presenc<'  ol'tiiese 
men  of  war  in  uniform  at  the  meetiuirs  insured  order,  for  they 
felt  the  spirit  of  their  j)rofession,  and  the  honor  (»f  reliirion  was,  in 
their  eyes,  well  worth  the  drawinir  of  their  swords.  At  Dublin, 
they  kept  order  for  AN'esley,  as  self-c(Uistituted  })olice.  and  ii\ 
many  places  a  fair  number  of  them  were  "  L'ood  soldiers  of  ,Iesus 
Christ.'*     One  of  these,  Duncan  \\'rii:ht,  deserves  notice. 

lie  was  a  Scotchman,  from  childhood  "  hookish."  readinir  and 
wecpinir  and  wishiui:'  to  l>e  a  Christian,  "  l»ut  not  knowini:'  how."' 
At  eiiihteiMi.  lie  went  into  military  life  to  ease  his  lu'art.  At 
Cashel,  in  camp,  a  corporal  preached  to  the  troop>.  and  Method- 
ist soldiei's,  at  Linu'rick,  Ivcpt  his  cdnscicnce  uni'asy.  lie  then 
souiiht  the  conversation  of  Methodists  for  relief,  and  on  a  wake- 
ful, weepinu"  niiilit ,  "  the  Lord  hrouirht  him  in  an  instant  out  of 
ilarkness  into  His  marvelous  liijfht."  He  had  a  deep  imj)ressi()n 
that  he  ouirht  to  preach  to  his  conwades,  and  this  was  most  traL''- 
ically  continued. 

To  ])ut  a  terror  on  desertion,  order  was  iriv^'n  to  shoot  a  desert- 


I' 


«■; 


:f 


I 

i 


III  'tp 

lit  1 1 
m 


ii 


in 


" 


u>l 


Hi 


<  Ml 


•!*' 


'^4 


1  "» I  yy^r   Sinri/  lit'  Ml  tiniil ism, 

t'l-  III  every  city  ot'  Iichiinl.  (  Jiic  nl"  lln'  ••xMiiipIc-'  \v:i->  in  Wriulil's 
rci:iiiii'iil .  II  Vdiitli  dl'  lull  iwciilv.  iMiiitaii  went  l<i  l:ilU  mikI  pray 
\\ii!i  ilic  |M)or  1:1(1.  will).  MiiHiii;!  hi-  L:'iiiir<l>.  \\m>i  rc'idiiiL;'  "  I'lic 
NN'liolc  hiity  ot"  M;iii."  uilli  IkiI.  (Ic->|)!iii'iiit:'  Ic'ir^-.  "  like  ii 'Irow  ii- 
iiiu'  iiKiii  cMtcliiiii:'  Mt  >lr;i\v>i."  A'^mIii  I)iiiic:im  ciiiiic  ;iI  ex  fiiiiii:'. 
pniyiiiL:'  willi  liiiii.  Mini  t'xliDrl  in::'  tli<'  iii.iny  soldicr-i  prc>.('iil  In 
liini  l(»  (  mmI.  'I'lic  \  i^il^  Wert'  coiil  iiiiicd.  mi  id.  lour  days  hclorc  lii-i 
cXftMit  ion.  the  poor  Ind  tolllid  pcMct'.  He  w  itiu'-.s(>d  m  i^dod  coii- 
t'osion.  WMlkrd  to  his  (h'Mth  wilh  m  \\u-v  orscri'iiily  mikI  Joy  whicii 
his  I'clhtw  sohlitMvs  nolrd  well,  dropped  on  his  Uiiccs  lor  ten  niiiiiilcs 
ol' pniyci'.  u'MN  t'  (ht'sij^iiMl  lor  his  slioot  iii<:.  mihI  "  wciiI  to  pMrMdisc." 

hiiiH'Mii  thfii  Ix'LiMii  jircMchim;'.  At  niu'ht .  he  hMd  meet  iiii^s  Mf 
his  (iiiMiMcrs.  sMiii;',  pVMytMl  mikI  rcMtl.  mikI.  ms  his  linht  iisiiMliy  then 
went  out.  he  iiad  to  exhort.  .Moviiii;'  with  his  rcu'iincnl,  he  wms 
the  lii'st  pr«'M(h('r  in  (iMlwMy.  :md  in  ihMl  city  he  piincd  coiixcrts, 
soni(>  ot"  whom  were  h)ni:"  aTtcr  "  w  foinl"()rt  to  inc.  tliouiih  sonio  arc 
asleep  in  fh'sus." 

His  coh)n<d.  uiialtK'  to  stoj)  his  pi-cachinii",  i:<>t  his  discharii'c, 
and  he  ^\  as  soon  a  1  rax  t'liii;^' preacher.  IJiil  the  cohm«d  was  not  rid 
ot"  amioyancc.  A  reu'inicnial  surizcon,  t'or  wit  and  waii'il't'ry .  went 
to  heai'a  h)cal  preaclicr.  and  "  pceriiii:"  at  him  ihroiiii'h  liis  tini:c'r>," 
was,  like  the  Kinii"  ot'  old,  pierced  ihi'ouii'h  the  crevice  ot"  his 
armor.  IK'  l)tH'anie  ))reaclier  to  the  soldiers  until  he  died  t"r()m 
])roressi()nal  ('xjxtsure. 

DuiH'an  <:a\i'  to  the  ministry  thirty  active  yeai's.  Soldier  as 
ho  was,  he  could  not  ke(>p  nj)  with  the  tiridess  Wesl(>y. 
""^riiat  iiave  him  too  much  exiTcisc  ;  he  had  to  irive  it  uj)."' 

Thomas  A\^ilsh  was  now,  17')8,  "just  alive."*     '' ( >   what  a  niiui 
to  1.C  snatched  away  in  the  strcMiiith  of  his  y(>ai's  I"      Walsh   li 
worn  himsi'lt'  out.      He   was  ot"  I'eehle   frame,  yet  h(»  proiiclu'd  a, 
ways    twice,  often  thrice  a  day,  hesides  nuich  visitinii"  of  the  weak, 
the  sick  and  the  dviiii:-.      He  rose  at    foui'  to  studv.  :ind  w;is  ;it  his 


J'rnifrrss    ill     li'i'hnuL 


l.» 


lM»(tk-<  until  liitc  ill  tlif  iiiiilit.      II. •  sjitw  \\(»ni  Mini  wcmi-n  .  >.'1.1iiim 


miiiIiml:',    lu'xcr    hiiiulimt;'. 


I''(ir   ^iicli    rri'di-s   ijicr 


(•      l-i      no      l)!l 


I'doii 


priiN  idi'ij.     NmIiu'c  sici'iily   cmhi-;    t  lie  pfiijill  y.      \\  iilsli    iMilcil    in 
IicmIiIi.    ;iii(I   ;iI    1  wciiI  \ -ti\  c    lixikcd    liken  iii.-iii    ol'  I'orlv.      Wlicrc 


w  ;is 


\\('^1('\  .   whose  e;ire  ol"   lii>  own  lieilllll    w:is  >o  wise,   wlio  w;i> 


iVee   Mini    joyous   in  reliiMil  i(Hi.  !i:iil    liiiiu'lit    his  preiii'liers   smmIimi'V 


rules   -o  !i(lniir:ihlt' 


\\';il>ii    siiciil    I  wo    Ncnrs    in 


W 


(•-lev 


own 


hoii>e.  Mini  WMs  mIIo\\»'(|  Io  live  on  "nt    this  poor,  dyiiit:'  iMte."      In 
truth  he  lookc*!  on  W'mIsIi  wit Ii  wonder  mikI   reverence,  mikI  so  did 

ail.        Tile  yolllli:'  pr«'M('ll(>r  >eeined  to   he  m   SMilll   eoiiie    hMcU   to  llli'll 
o\  er  the  eteniMl  portMl.      He  .-ippeMred  to  lie  MJw.iys  in  pi'Myer.      '"In 
>leep    it>ell',  to  Iliy  certMill  kllowledL^c,   iiis  soul  went  out    ill  <:•l•o!r|■^ 
Mild   sii^lis  Mild   tcMi's   to(io(l.      His  hcMrt,  liMviiii:'   MttMiiied  such  M 
leiideiiey  t(»  its  Loi'd.  eoiild  only  L:i\  e  ov<'r  when  il  ecMsed  to  hcMt."' 
With  iiistiniis  ;ind  sell'-deiiiMls.  he   >eeined  .'ilisorlted  in  (lod,  mikI, 
tidiii  the    splendor  ol'   his    fiiee,  Miid   the  |»eculiMrily   of   his  gest- 
ures, he  seemed  iicMi'  the  WMN'inj:,  <ilisterinL:'  rohes  ot"  his  t rMiistii;- 
ured    Lord.      In   his    ))i'ivMte   de\  (it  ions,  he  would,  in  sonic   decj), 
>oleiiiu  mood,  he  i'or  hours  motionless  as  a  statue,  and  in  his  puh- 
lic   prayers  "  it  was  as  thoujjili   llie  heavens   wer<'   hurst  open,  and 
(iod  himselt'  appeared  in  the  couiireuat ion."      ^\'e  have  noted  that 
lie  died   ill  anguish  until  the  very  last.      His  janiiled  nerves  seem- 
ed to   hrino-  his   soul    into  ruins,  and    in  the   uloom  he  "  sadly  l»e- 
wailed  the  abscnoo  of  Him    whose   preseiic(!   liad  so  often   niven 
him  victory."     It   was  a  I'eiiiark  of  Fletcher  that  weak  Itclicvci's 
miii'ht  die  cheerfully,  while  stroiiir  ones  miiihl    have   severe  con- 
"iets.      Walsh   thought  otherwise,  hut  two  years  latci- he   j)roved 
till   truth  of  Flctclici"'s  words.      Still,  his  last  words  were:  "He  is 
>(»ine  !     lie  is  come  I     My  Ixdoved   is   mine  audi  am  His — His 
forever!"'     lie  was  twcnty-ei;ilit  years  old.  and  had  served  eiiiht 
years  in  the  ministry.      Thus  Ireland  uave  its  heroes  to   Method- 
ism.     A'd    Methodism  had  done  much  for    Ireland.      It    had,  hy 


;  I 


* 

i 


liilM 

■'lit 


»  U 


iiin 

If! 


I'  "; 


•  im 


III  ti 


.♦  'I 

iXli 

115 : 


w 


f 


liil 


150 


The  ^/on/  of  MHhixdsin. 


i  i 


17(50,  entered  every  county  hut  Kerry,  and  had  .^oeieties  in  most 
of  the  lai'ge  towns.  Strange,  its  Avorst  opponents  were  J'rotes- 
tants,  who  eouhl  n(»t  .see  lliat  the  success  of  Methodism  was  the 
success  of  the  most  active  and  sahitarv  movement  known  to  Prot- 
estant Christ  ianitv. 


I>lt.  A.C'LAKKK'S  MOM  MI.NT,  I'dUr  IMSII,  IKKUNt),  Kl!l.<   Till)  lS.V.1. 


•. 


•   ' 'P! 

]'     ^ 

("IIAPTKi:  XII. 


it: 


TJie  ^ext  Ten  Years  in    Enqlaml,  17')<>-17fi(>. 


•ISITLNG  Wales,  in  17.")0,  Wesley  was  glad  to 
liiid  all  the  ('luiixlu's  walking  in  tlu":  iVar  of 
God  and  tlio  tonit'ort  of  the  IIolv  (Jhost. 
Their  nnnibers  increased.  "  What  can  destroy 
the  work  of  (Jod  in  these  bnt  zeal  for  and 
contending  about  opinions?"  Yet  there  was 
need  to  briny:  reliirion  to  bear  on  morals,  ^'essels 
wreekod  upon  the  coast  of  ^^'ales  had  fared  hard, 
the  people  counting  such  things  :is  spei'ial  favors 
of  fortune.  Another  vice  of  the  coast  was 
snniggling,  and  he  found  that  some  of  his  people 
dealt  in  "uncustomed  goods,"  and  })(!rhaps  did 
even  worse.  His  action  was  ix'reinptoiy.  "  Tlu'V 
should  see  his  face  no  moi'e  unless  the  thing  were  entirely 
abandoned."  He  was  glad  to  know  that  his  peo))le  ])ecame  ex- 
euij)lary  in  their  humane  and  just  behavior. 

The  next  year  he  visited  Scotland,  lie  had  never  been  there, 
and  "^Miitetield  warned  him  not  to  go.  Those  stern  Calvinists 
"would  leave  him  nothing  to  do  but  dispute  from  morning  to 
night."  At  jMussclborough,  the  people  stood  cold  as  statues, 
yet  "the  prejudice  which  the  devil  had  been  yc^irs  in  planting 
was  plucked  up  in  an  liour."  He  was  invited  to  slay,  but  lIoo|)er, 
a  lay  itinerant,  took  his  place,  and  good  was  done  in  several 
towns.  "God  raised  up  witnesses  that  ITe  liiid  sent  us  to  the 
Xorth  Britons  also."' 


'     t  .1 

( , 

■  'Ifl 


I, 


\n  ! 


•  itk 


J  Ilk 

lit  III 

I!"" 


•Id' 


i 


m 


!■'■» 


I 'I  I 


I    I 


i 


158 


The  Stoi'u  of  Method ii<m. 


Two  years  later  he  visited  Scotland  and  preached  at  (ilasgow. 
On  the  second  dwy  it  rained,  and  Gillies,  a  pastor,  opene(l  hii. 
kirk  lor  W'cslev.  '' >\'liw  would  have  l)elieved,  live  and  twenty 
years  aiio,  that  the  niinistei  wonhl  have  desired  it,  or  that  I 
should  have  consented  to  i)reach  in  a  Scotch  kirk?"  lie  then 
))rca(iicd  mi  the  open  air  and  had  larne  heariuii",  even  in  a  shower 
of  rain,  lie  was  pleased  with  their  manners.  They  seemed 
respectt'id.  I)ut  thev  were  indill'erent.  Thev  would  not  even  riot 
and  persecute  him.  He  said:  "T\w\  kiioir  evervthinij  and  fWl 
nothini:."  ]Io  could  not  see  "why  the  hand  of  the  Lord,  who 
does  nothin_<r  without  cause,  was  almost  entirely  stayed  in  Scot- 
land." 

Foiu'  years  latei'  he  was  aijain  in  that  country,  prcachinir  again 
in  (ilasiTow  to  large,  unfeeling congreuations.  At  the  poor-house 
he  found  around  him  the  gathered  })e()i)le,  l)efore  him  the  inlii'mary, 
its  windows  crowded  with  the  sick,  and,  close  at  hand,  the  lunatic 
hospital,  whose  inmates  were  reverently  listeniiiii".  To  all  these  he 
gave  a  tender,  timely  word  of  the  Great  riiysician,  and  baptized 
several  children,  the  tirst  Methodist  administration  of  the  rite  in 
Scotland. 

His  con<rrei:ations  were  sometimes  l)evond  the  capacity  of  his 
voice.  A  little  society,  which  he  at  last  found  in  the  city,  met 
to  argue  of  knotty  points,  not  to  j)romote  experience.  He  gave 
them  good  advice,  and  jnit  them  in  the  care  of  Dr.  Gillies,  in 
whose  kirk  he  had  preached. 

At  Dunbar  and  Musselljorough,  the  old  heroes  of  Fontenoy  had 
done  wonders.     "'I'he  Xational   shyness    and  stubborimess   were 

* 

iTone  and  th(>y  were  as  open  and  teachable  as  little  children." 

In  every  })art  of  England.  Methodism  now  grew  rapidly,  and 
Wesley,  now  a  person  of  Xationsd  imj)ortance,  was  viewed  \\'\X\\ 
something  of  Xational  reverence.  Preaching  at  Birmingham, 
where  the  chajx'!   liad  to  l)e  exchanged  for  the  street  on  account 


Tlie  Xcxt   Ten    Yearn  in.   Enqhiml. 


150 


f;f  the  iminltors,  he  s:iys  :  "IIow  lias  tlu'  scoiu'  clianixcd  lien*! 
The  last  time  I  iJi-ciiclicd  at  Uinniiiiihaiii  the  stoiu's  th'w  on  every 
side;  it"  any  disturbaui-e  were  now  made,  the  disturlu-r  would  be 
in  more  danirer  than  the  preaeher."  Like  ehanire  was  noled  at 
A\'akelield  and  elsewhere,  and  his  Journal  is  a  record  of  ui'atitudc 
and  praise.  At  Hull,  he  had  a  "reminiseenee.""  It  was  his  lirst 
visit,  and  the  wharf  was  full  of  laui:iiin_i»",  stariiiii"  erowds,  askinji, 
"AVhieh  is  he?"  An  immense  nudtitude  irathered  in  th(>  lields  to 
hoar  him,  and  thousands  heard  him  seriously.  ".Many  behaved  as 
if  possessed  by  Moloeh."  Stones  tlew  while  he  ])reaehed,  and  after- 
wards the  mob  threw  missiles  into  his  eoach  windows.  ]Iis  house 
of  entertainment  "svas  assailed  till  midnight,  and  its  Avindows 
broken  to  tlu;  third  story.  The  old,  olil  styles  of  entrance  ! 
Methodism  soon  flourished  in  Hull,  and  at  \\'esley"s  next  visit  the 
best  of  theeitv  <rave  hun  a  uood  liearin<r. 

xVt  Chester,  two  days  liefore  his  eomiuii",  a  mob  had  wrecked 
tlie  ehapel.  He  stood  by  its  ruins  Mid  told  how  "this  sect  is 
everywhere  spoken  against."  The  like  violence  never  occui'red 
in  Chester  again.  So  in  town  after  town  Satan  still  used  various 
devices  and  much  violence,  but  "the  word  of  (iod  j)re\  ailed."  In 
17,')'),  he  visited  the  infant  town  of  Liverpool.  Its  whole  ))opula- 
tion  was  less  than  Gladstone's  audience  in  June,  issd,  l)ut  all 
came  to  hear  "Wesley,  and  he  had  a  large  society.  He  was  ))leas- 
ed  with  the  city.  ''In  tifty  years  it  will  nearly  eijual  liristoll" 
It  is  now  as  larjie  as  manv  liristols.  It  is  still  "one  of  the 
neatest,  best  built  towns  in  England,"  and  is  the  most  nearly  a 
rival  of  London. 

At  Hornby,  the  landlords  had  turned  all  the  Methodists  out 
of  their  houses,  but  this  ])roved  "a  singular  kindness,"  for, 
building  small  houses  at  the  end  of  the  town,  forty  or  tifty  of 
them  formed  a  Christian  community  as  peaceful  and  spiritual 
as  a  Moravian  station. 


I    W 


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IGO 


TV/e  Stor>/  of  Mef/io(?).vn. 


A  West  Tndiii  plaiitor,  at  "Wanlsworth,  "a  dosolato  jilace," 
ojx'iK'd  loi'  liiiii  a  dooi"  to  prcai-li.  Sonic  o!"  his  iu'<ri"0('.s  wore 
present  at  tlic  ])r('a«'liiii,i:".  Ono  of  tlicsi*  Wcsloy  l)aj)tiz(Ml  as  a 
convert,  the  first  reircnci'atcd  African  he  lia<l  ever  known  I  She, 
the  lirst  fVnits  ot"  a  niiuhty  peoph*,  went  hack  to  AntiL^ia  with 
lier  master.  'I'he  ])lanler  was  Nathaniel  (rilhert,  Speaker  of  the 
House  of  Assembly  in  his  ishind.  lie  lu'oanie  a  local  preacher 
and  introduced  Methoilism  into  the  West  Indies. 

It  was  now  nearly  the  life-time  ofa  <>en(!ration  since  Weslej' 
had  he<run  to  })reach  and  Methodists  were  now  bcirinninji'  to  die. 
"Our  j)eople  die  well,"  is  a  (juiet  remark  of  \Vesley,  and  it  prov- 
ed true  that  their  clear  experiences  irave  them  a  c()mfortal)le 
assurance  of  tin;  life  to  come.  All  deaths  seem  to  hav(5  been  re- 
corded, as  thev  had  in  earlv  aues  been  carved  on  the  walls  of  the 
Catacombs  at  Rome.  Obituaries  are  still  prominent  in  "Advo- 
cates." Charles  took  special  note  of  deaths  among  the  colliers 
of  Kingswood  an<l  raised  a  song,  new  and  sweet,  over 
many  a  humble  believer.  II(!  wrote  elegies  over  nearly  ever_y 
preacher  who  died  until  his  own  turn  came  which  he  preluded 
with  a  hymn  so  tender  and  touching  that  it  has  no  e(|ual  among 
the  "swan-songs"    of  literature. 

It  was  also  time  for  troubles  to  "arise  of  your  own  selves." 
At  Bristol,  in  17.')7,  half  the  societv  had  been  lost  bv  internal 
discords.  James  Wheatley,  at  Norwich,  the  lirst  i)r(VKher  ex- 
I  elled  from  the  Societies,  had  almost  destroyed  his  own  societv. 
His  own  company  fell  apart  and  tinally  gathered  again  into 
M»'thodism. 

At  Bolton,  Bennet,  the  husband  of  (irace  Murray,  seceded  and 
harshly  abused  Wesley. 

Som<^  doctrinal  wranglings  came  lU  to  amioy  the  Hock.  No 
dogmas,  except  those  univei>ally  received,  wer«'  conditions  of 
membership.      Weslev    was    on    the    best    of    terms    with    the 


The  Xext   Ten    Yoars.  in   Ennhnnl. 


ir,i 


evangelical  Calviiiists  in  his  dav.  Tliev  took  dcilij^ht  in  his 
work  and  their  Cluireiies  t'clt  the  jjower  of  the  groat  n'vival. 
There  were  others  ot'  low  di'iri-ce,  "eavilinir,  eontentious, 
proselytinir."  who  vexed  iiis  soul  and  his  jM'ople  and  whoso  con- 
duet  Charles  felt  more  deeply  than  hiniselt". 

Heroes  were  still  noedcd  and  they  stdl  were  found. 

Thomas  Lee  was  tit  to  rank  with  John  Nelson.  lie  was  no 
vulsiar  hoy.  At  tifteen,  apprenticed  to  the  worsted  trach',  he  was 
fond  of  books  and  si)eciallv  of  the  liibh;  and  alrc^adv  loved 
])rayer  and  souirht  spiritual  exj)erieiu'es.  Ilearinji'  th«^  Methodist 
preachers,  "My  heart  was  so  unite'd  with  tliem  that  I  dro|)ped  at 
once  all  my  former  companions  and,  blessed  be  God  I  I  hav«» 
not  from  that  hour  had  one  desire  to  iro  back."  His  ai)proach 
to  the  liirht  was  slow  and  painful.  He  suspected  himself  of 
hypocrisy  while  he  omitted  no  duty  of  reliuion,  (>ven  conduct- 
ino-  family  i)rayer  in  the  house  of  his  master  and  of  s<>veral 
others.  At  lenirth,  God  broke  in  upon  his  soul.  He  bepin  to 
work  half  the  tnne  and  j)reach  the  other  half.  At  Patelev 
Rridire,  the  parish  cleriryman  roused  a  mob  to  initiat<>  him,  a. id 
he  proved  a  hero.  ''  We  have  done  enough  to  make  an  end  of 
him."  thev  cried.  He  reeled  ;  his  head  was  broken  with  a  stom^ 
hut  he  says  :  "  It  was  a  glorious  time,  and  several  date  their  con- 
version from  that  day'"  T'>e  connnon  j)reachers  still  sutlered 
severely  where  the  leading  preachei's  were  unharmed.  At 
Patelev.  Lee  was  met  bv  a  mob  whose  leader  was  kept  in  con- 
stant  i)ay  for  this  ])iu'p()se.  They  hit  him  with  twenty  stont^s, 
ilragired  him  down  some  steps,  to  the  lasting  hurt  of  his  back, 
rolled  him  in  the  sewer  and  then  thi'cw  him  into  the  river.  His 
wife  coming  to  his  help  as  he  lay  on  the  ground  unable  to  rise, 
I  hey  struck  heron  the  mouth  till  it  bled.  So  they  farcMl  for  a 
year,  and  the  Dean  of  Hi{)on  refused  protection.  \vX  one  of  tln'se 
"seemed  to  us  a  little  heaven."      "  Is  not  the  assuranc(!  of  the  divine 


mm 


I'lji 

4 


K 

if" 


t  ilk  !  > 


•••'III 


■;i 


T]((i  tSftn'i/  of  Mcthoflisnt. 

tnvor  cointoi'l  ciiouirh  lor  all  this?"  Year  after  year  Lee  and  liis 
noble  w  ifc  sccnicd  io  lie  in  tli(^  front  of  the  1)altl(',  And  whcnall  was 
over,  and  in  ITM!  liis  Maiy,  that  (h'votcd  wife,  st()(»d  hy  his  Ix'd- 
>id(',  lie  ihoiiii'hl  :  "  If  at  this  monicnt  I  saw  all  the  suH'ci-iniis  I 
have  had  for  His  name's  sake.  I  would  say  :  Lord,  if  Thou  Avilt 
ifivc  me  sti'cnL'th,  1  will  lu'iiiu  ai;iiin,  and  Thou  shall  add  to  them 
lions' dens,  and  ticry  fui'nat'cs.  and  hy  Thy  uracc  I  will  li'o  throuLdi 
thoni  all."'     And  so  thouiiht  Mai-v  Lee. 

Chi'isliai!  Hopper  was  such  a  man.  ITc  often  ])rcach('d  Avith  a 
patch  on  his  head,  wounded  for  liis  Master's  sake,  and  he  thouirhf 
it  an  honoi'ablc  badue.  lie  was  the  tirst  lay  j)reachei-  to  iio 
into  Scotland. 

About  this  time  Charles  "Weslev  nave  up  itineratinu'.  The 
restless  activity  of  John  made  nuich  travel  by  (  harles 
umu'cessary.  and  flohn's  was  the  ruliuii'  mind.  Not  that  ( 'hai'les 
ceased  to  labor.  He  took  chai'«:'»'  of  the  cha])els  in  Lon(h»n  and 
Bristol.  At  live  on  Sunday  lie  administered  the  Comnumion. 
He  jireached  constantly,  the  places  in  the  twot-itics  Ix-ini:'  many. 
He  also  went  over  the  country  after  AVheatk'v's  expulsion,  and. 
iratlu'rinu"  small  conferenci's  of  the  preachers,  he  at  once  examined, 
tauj^ht  and  admonished  them  as  to  their  moral  and  ministerial 
I)ehavior. 

A  new  man  now  appears.  In  jNlarch,  17.")7,  Wesley,  weak  and 
weary,  was  prayinu'  for  help  of  his  own  irrade,  when  fTolm  Fletch- 
er came,  ji  hel))er  in  every  respect  meet  for  AN'esley's  needs. 
"AN'here  could  1  have  t'ouiul  such  another?''  He  wa:  born  of  a 
noble  family  at  }syon.  in  Switzt'rland.  His  kindred  are  still  found 
on  the  north  shore  of  Lake  Geneva.  Beiui;  of  reliijious  turn,  lu; 
was  intended  for  the  ("hurch.  but  the  Calvinism  of  Switzerland 
was  not  to  his  mind,  and  he  chose  a  military  life.  He  took  a 
captain's  connnission  in  the  army  of  Portu^^'al,  but,  failing  to 
saii  tj  Brazil,  he  heard  ))reaching  in  London       He  was  ( onviiij- 


mil 


r 


RF.V.  lOlIN  II  r  KHI  K, 


fl^    . 


I" 


•    Ml" 


I 


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;!i!iiH 
•••III 


•I' 


Hi 


ir.4 


The    Sttn-i/    of  Mr//)itdtsj/i. 


y   ' 


cd  that  was  uiirciroiKM'atc,  and  was  aiiia/cd.  He  had  Ixmmi  count- 
ed religions,  had  studied  di\iiiity,  tiud  for  ]iis  writiiiiis  ou  it  liad 
taken  iVoui  a  university  tiie  " -preniiuiu  of  j)iety."' yet  "  Unew  not 


riiK'ii'li'i!il'ii''iiC''ii"iri''iiOir'^'{!,''' 

1'#l-l  lil, ,,. 


i'  '1; 


what  faitli  is  I '"  Alter  (MMivei'sion,  he  todk  orders  in  the  Kniilish 
Church,  and  Itecanic  Wesley's  chief  ch-rical  lielpor.  ]le  liecanie 
vicar  of  ^ladeK'v,  Itut  he  was  all    his    lile    Weslcv's    adviser  and 


\ 


The  Xtxt   I'rii     Ytiirs  in   Enqhinii, 


165 


cniiipiiiiion,  lli(!  Icadiiii:'  (Ict'ciidcr  ol'his  thcoloiry  and  ])r:ictii'o,  nnd 
;ili(iv(>  idl  llic  iiiMM  most  skillful  to  Icll,  ill  works  still  read  with 
(Idiuiit,  the  spiritual  ('.\|K'i'i(Mi('('s  that  iravc  Mctliddisiii  its  lit'i'  and 
|Mi\v(>r,  aiul  with  wliich  his  own  soul  was  richly  laiiiiliar. 

It  has  hccii  noted  that  ^V('sh'y  now  niarricil.  His  witV.  Mrs. 
VazcilU',  was  liii;hly  rccoinnuMidcd  l»y  those  who  had  in  that  way 
(Idiic  Charles  nood  service.  He  was  now  of  middle  a^L'*'.  iind  his 
licart  felt  the  natural  loni:in<r  for  home  and  wife,  and  his  temper — 
clieerfui.  tench'r,  uniform — would  have  made  domestic  life  a  coin- 
tort  and  ii  hlessin<r.  Her  ample  estates  was  secui'cd  to  herself  and 
her  children,  while  AN'esley  was  still  to  travel.  She  iMu-ame  weary 
,,f  i>()iiii»-  with  him  and  restless  at  honu'.  until  a  mania  of  jealousy 
seized  her,  and,  after  annoyinir  him  in  every  manner,  she  left  hiui. 
In  all  this  lils  Avorst  foes  found  in  him  nothiiiii*  to  rei)r()5ic]i. 

For  oncci  AVesley  was  sick  like  other  men.  lie  had  every  ap- 
pearance of  a  rapid  consumption,  and  an  entire  I'cst  from  hibor 
and  can^  Avas  oi'dered.  Alarm  sjjread  among  all  his  ])eople,  and 
prayers  were;  everywhere^  sent  up  for  his  recovery  ;  for  how  cotthJ 
he  l»e  spared?  Oiu^  day,  when  lu^  knew  his  death  was  hourly  ex- 
l)oeted,  his  free  and  lively  mind  threw^  otf,  to  iret  ahead  of  ''vile 
panciiyric,''  this  epitaph  : 

''Here  lieth  the  l)ody  of  John  AVesloy,  a  ])rand  i)luck<'d  from 
the  burniiiii",  who  died  of  a  consum})ti()n  in  the  tifty-tirst  year  of 
his  age  ;  not  leaving,  after  his  debts  are  ))aid,  ten  pounds  behind 
Iiiin.  Praying  God  be  merciful  to  me,  an  unpr()tital)le  sinner." 
lie  ordered  that  this,  if  any  inscription,  should  be  ])laced  on  his 
tombstone. 

Ilervey,  his  old  Oxford  friend,  a  jjious  and  faithful  clergy- 
iiiaii.  and  deeply-  attached  to  AV-sley,  had  been  induci'd  to  attack 
Wesley's  theology,  writing  "  Kleven  Letters"  ''  in  tin;  interest  of 
truth."  At  his  death  he  directed  these  to  be  buriuid,  Ili.s 
Itrothei-,  seeing  money  in  the  matter,  put  the  manuscript  in  the 


Ik  I 


"1:1 


1^ 


1 1 


i 


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ii.iiit  1 1 

ill  fl^  :  t 

III  ,1 

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ii 


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1l 


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1 

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I'h 

lA  1 

M    A 

W^ 

-^^  ■«" 

166 


T/te  Sloi'i/  of  Mitlinilisiii. 


hands  of  a  rcnciriidc,  Ciidwdi'tli,  who  rix<'(l  thciii  lo  his  niiiid  and 
|)iil)li>ht'(l  them.  They  wcic  shiimclul.  and,  licai'ihi:"  ihc  name  of 
IIci'Ncy.  who  falh'd  W'olcy  "iViciid  and  lather,"  did  niix-hicf, 
(•s}M'cially  in  Sc(»lland.  Wcsh-y  was  «ji-i('V{'(l  at  this  his  first  as- 
sault IVoin  "a  man.  a  In'otlM'i'."  with  wlioin  he  liad  taUfii  >W('ct 
(•ounx'l.  hnt  he  and  his  work  outlived  many  such. 

lie  was  still  hopini.'-  that  \rethodisni  wonld  llnd  laxoi-  and  sup- 
port with  the  ('hufeli.  \\"\\\\  this  in  \  iew  .  he  wrote  an  "Appeal 
to  the  ( 'lei"i;v."  In  his  mind  the  Chureh  was  a  spacious  mansion, 
ample  lor  the  home  ol' all  believers  in  Kni:land,  and  there  he  lonii- 
ed  to  see  his  societies  ;it  rest.  Jl(!  tl'ied  to  sh(»w  his  I'elloW 
clerirymen  the  lofty  nature  of  their  callini:'.  and  their  opportunity 
to  enlar<i:e  and  ennolde  the  Church  l>y  i:atherini:'  1o  it  the  i-ising 
Zealand  force  of  the  people.  Only  they  must  comeback  to  tlio 
apostolic  standard  of  simplicity,  saci'ilice  and  sj)irituality.  .Vn 
evangelical  cleriiy  would  render  his  own  sja-cial  work  needless; 
his  helpers  coidd  help  the  ("hurch,  and  his  societies  fill  its  ediuce.; 
with  devout  and  earnest  worshipers.  J  lis  a|)i)eal  Avas  not  lost, 
but  his  own  eyes  were  not  to  see  his  (h'sire. 

He  was  ama/c'd  at  what  he  had  now  seen  in  twenlv-ono 
y^ars.  The  breadth,  the  clearness  and  the  contiimanco  were 
Avitliout  parallel  in  any  known  reformation.  Two  or  three  obscun; 
(•IcrirynuMi,  aided  by  a  few  youuir,  untrained  men,  and  opposed 
by  nearlv  all  the  clei'iiV  and  laitv  of  the  land,  liooted  aiul  abused 
by  the  mole  ,  had  awakened  the  mIioIc  Xation.  A\'ell  miuht  he 
.say  :  "  ^^'llat  hath  'lod  wrouiji'ht?" 

()ther  men  of  tlie('hurch  now  came  to  Wesley's  he!]).  .loliii 
l>errid_i:e  was  vicai-  of  Mxci'ton.  pi'eachini:'  for  years  (he  say) 
without  personal  religion.  In  ]7."»S,  he  solicited  ^^'esley  to  comic 
to  him,  and  a  new  life  had  already  l)ei:un.  J I  is  ])reachinir  was  with 
demonstrations  l)eyond  even  these  days  of  power.  The  Kev.  Mr. 
Ilicks,     his    neitihbor,     shared    tlie     wctrk.        Midtitudes     came 


'I'im  Srxf   'I'l'ii    )'i'tii's   ill    h'lii/Imii/. 


ICT 


led 


in 

•■) 
:iu' 
ith 

Ir. 

MIC 


tVniii  lli(>  i'('«ri(ni  miles  around,  and  llic  clmi'cli  at  I'lvcrlo"  wn?» 
I  I'owdcd  lo  lis  la>t  capacity.  These  ci'owds  ^M'oancd,  sol>l)c(l 
;ind  uasped  under  the  pl'eachiui:',  and  scores  t(dl  iiclph'ss  to  the 
lloor.  In  the  shiniiii:'  taces  of  tiic  heiievers  "  was  such  a  Ix-auty, 
-IK  li  a  hioU  of  happiness,  hivc  and  simplicity,  as  I  ncvci"  saw  in 
human  faces  till  now."  lie  hcL^an  to  itinerate,  and  often.  I'idini:' 
a  hundi'cd  miles.  uav<'  a  dozen  sermons  in  a  week.  At  Stalloid, 
he  had  formerly  liecn  cufate  in  the  days  when  he  "knew  nothiui^ 
dl'  rclii:ion."  lie  nave  there  to  a  host  of  hcarci's  "  a  (lospel 
-.crmon."  such  as  he  mourned  not  to  have  u'ivt'U  helore.  "The 
(liief  ca))lain  of  Satan's  forces."  a  man  ready  to  horsewhip  any 
Methodist,  fell  with  the  symptoms  that  he  had  ridiculed.  IIi' 
clapped  his  hands  luid  roared,  and  his  distorted  face,  hciu-ath 
coal-hlack  wii:'  and  hair,  made  his  llii'ure  horriltle.  His  iViends 
tried  toe'ct  him  away.  lie  fcdl  on  his  back,  ])rayini:"  and  cryinir. 
■()  my  burden!  my  Imi'den  I"  and  his  fellows  saw  liiat  their 
champion  was  broken.  After  hours  of  aiiony  he  iound  I'clief  t"or 
soul  and  body.  After  four  thousand  had  been  awakened  after 
this  fashion,  the  excitemont  vanished  and  the  fruit  of  I'iuhteous- 
ness  was  peace.  After  twenty  years  of  t'aithfidness.  in  which 
his  le.ii-ninu',  labor  and  wealth  were  fr<'ely  ,iii\('ii  to  the  Method- 
ists, especially  the  ( 'alvinistic.  he  was  borne  to  his  urave  by  a 
lari^e  company  of  clerirynien.  amid  the  leais  of  thousands. 

AVilliam  liomaiiH'  had  won.  by  his  abilities.  j)laceand  distinction 
ill  the  Church,  and  pro\t'd  himself  true  to  refoi'iii  within  its 
pale.  Ilis  church  in  ^^'est  Dunstan,  where  he  h.id  his  share 
ot'trouble.  was  too  small  tbi*  his  conu'reiiation.  lie  took  to  the 
open  air  and.  becomini:"  one  of  Lady  Iluntiniidoirs  chaplains, 
traveled  and  iireaclied  incessantly.  lie  was  Calviuist ic.  and 
his  writinirs  went  far  tj  liive  peiMuanent  form  to  the  best  reliu- 
ions  views  and  experieiu'es  of  the  times. 

Martin    Madaii  was   a    brilliant,  aristocratic  vouiii:-   lawyer    in 


i'   i 


III 


I'l 


:■!!: 


ii 

i 


'{111 


^  ii!;; 


ii 


i\ 


•i<if!! 


I! 


''   h 


h;m 


The    Sloi'l   I  if'  MiIIkkHkiii, 


London.       II*'  Weill  In  lir;il'  \\ Oli'V  sons    to    l'clir!ir>f    llic    xTIMoll 
As   lie  (•nt('r(Ml   llic   I'ooin.  tlic  \v\\    \\!i>   iiflci-fd, 


with  niitiiK-rN 


"  I'i'cjmrc  to  iiiccl  tliy  (Jodl"  He  wasstnicU:  lie  listened;  lie 
(•li!inijf<'(|  liis  )uiri>osr  ;iiid  liis  life.  "Did  von  tiikc  tlic  old 
MctliodisI     oil"?"     asked   liis    yf\i\   coniradcs  jit    tlic  coircc-liousc. 


N 


(),  ircnllcnicii.    iMil    In'    has    laKcii  nic  o 


IIV"      II 


IS  inotiici-  was 


tVitMid  of  Ladv   Ilnntinii'doii :  the  y(»nni:'  convci't   found   in  licr 
ctinirs  conilort   and  ^iiiidancc,   and    soon  his    IcaniiiiLi'.  talents 


and  fort  nnc  wci'i' III  veil  to  the  Mctliodistic  woi'U.  His  lii'ctfhcr, 
a  Hislio|),  oi'daincd  liiin,  and  his  lii'st  sermon  at  Allhallows,  to 
crowds  caiTcr  to  hear  "a  lawyer  turned  preaelier,"  proved 
liini  iv  ])id|iit  oi'ator.  His  nolile  heai'inir'  :iMd  liii^li  jx'rsonal 
aeeoniplislnnents.  his  /eal  and  learning:',  made  him  dear  to  all 
Ills  brethren.  He  chose  the  ("alvinistie  hrotlu'rhood.  hut  hoth 
in  his  conversion  and  his  latci'  behavior  he    was    a  true  son  of 


Wesl 


ev 


Heni-y  ^'enn.  cui'ate  of  Clapham  and  afterwards  i-ector  of 
nuddci'stield.  canu"  into  the  work  of  ^^'hiteHeld  and  the  \\'esleys, 
and,  though  he  remained  true  to  the  Church,  he  induli!('d  in 
such  "  irrcunlarities  "  as  preachinu"  ei^ht  or  ten  sermons  a  we(d\. 
besides  his  reirular  sei'vices,  in  barns,  private  houses  or  the  open 
air.  For  thii'ty  years  he  laboi-ed,  and  thirtoen  of  his  converts 
Ix'canie  preachers  of  the  (Jospel. 

Thus  W'eslev  iiatheivd  ai'ound  him  men  of  ircnius  and  nietv. 
who  shared  his  labors,  called  him  father  and  loNcd  him  with 
unfalteriiiir  tenderness.  No  better  pi-oof  of  his  own  character 
can  be  jiiven  than  this  irroup  of  his  friends  allbrds.  He  outlived 
tliese  already  named,  but  others  rose  in  tlieii-  i)laces  and  his  last 
years  were  briiihtened  by  a  system  of  such  luminaries,  moving 
about  him  in  love  and  harmonv. 


i 


( iiArn:i{  xiii. 

(  'dlriii tsllf     Mhlli<i<\ i-iit% 

>  \\«'  >('(',  nid-t  dl"  flic  men 

l;itrly  li!illi('(|  were  nt"  ( '.il- 
\  iiiisiicN  i«'\v>.   'I'licir^TfMt 
|»i'(';irlicr  \\;i-    NN'liiti'l'u'ld  : 
llicir    ccMtrnl    mikI    i-iiliiiir 
iKTsoiiMM-,.  \v!is  \.\\k\\  Ilmit- 
iiii^doii.     'I'lif    piTiiclicr   was 
till      iiliuii(l:iiit      ill      lalxtrs. 
{;mi:iiii:-."  a.>   he  <-!illc(l   it. 
Ir(»m    Lniiddii.    over   Lrromid 
^^^     now  hrokcii  li\  liiiiiil»l<'i' iMcii, 
1,,^'       lie.  in  los  llum  tliicc  iiioiillis 
(»t  17.')(i.  ]»rf!itli»'(l  ill  l^iinlaiid 
inJ^:i  liiiiidicd  scniKtiis  t(i  a  hmidicd  and  lit'ty 
thousand  licarci's.      In    NN'alcs,    Scotland 
an<l   Iri'land  lie  liad  a   like  licai'iii;:'.     At 
;i^*^     iMlinltui'iili  lie  spoUc  twcnt  v-ciulit  succcs- 


n  thousand  a  dav 


oV(»Us 


wit    and   humor   he    was 


oven  ji  h'lhit  of  vomit in<r  hlood  after  pi'cachii.L''  h«'  called   his  nat- 
ural relief.     Airaiii  he  went  1(»  (leoriiia  and  lal»ore<l  tor  months  in 


tl 


10    Southern 


("ol 


onu's. 


Ix'eturniuii",   he   went   a^fain   over    NN'ales 


anil  Seothmd.     "O  that  I  could  tly  from  pole  to  pole,  j)reacirm<r 
the  everljistinir  (iospel  I"  was  his  constant  fecdinti'.      "  Fain  W(»uld 


I   di( 


»reac' 


hinir 


In   London,  he  Ituilt    a  new  taliernacle.  a 


nd, 


'•Kit 

M,|   \ 

";"l 


I    ' 


I 
>  III 

ii;! 


fi 


:}■■ 


1 


I 


'ffflfl 


170 


'J'lif    Sloi'i/   of'  ^It'f/nnl isiii , 


M 


while  it  was  hiiildiii!.''.  li<'  lu'caclicd  in  one  (»t'  \\'<'>l('y's  chapels. 
Ill  \\'csl('\'s  sickness  the  iircal-soulcd  iji^'achcr  urclc:  "It"  vou 
u  ill  Ik"  ill  liic  land  of  the  lixiiii:',  1  hope  to  pav  my  last  rcsjx'cts 
to  _.  ou  next  wccU.  If  ii(,1 ,  tarcwcll  I  My  heart  istoohiizl  Tears 
\\''.  isle  down  too  tast  ;  and  I  fear  you  are  too  weaU  for  me  to  eii- 
lar/iT''-  I  iiiii  your  most  aileetionate.  -<ym|)athi/ini:' and  atllieted 
younu'er  >on  in  the  (lospel."  \\'hat  teiKh-r  love  hetween  men 
whose  opinion.-  on  many  thini^s  were  diHereiil  I  He  then  made 
"his  most  siieeesst'ul  cainpaii'.n  in  lOntiland.  traveliiiii'  in  three 
Months  tw(dve  hundred  mih's  and  preaehini!-  a  hundred  and  eiiihty 
times  to  hearers  hy  the  hundred  thousands." 

Ai:ain  lu'  was  in  Aineriea.  In  his  ()rphan  House  he  found  a 
hundred  and  >i\  of  lilack  and  white.  In  a  tour  of  two  thousand 
miles  to  liostoii  and  hack  his  career  was  of  unfailing' power.  At 
Hosloii.  tliou>an<ls  were  weepinii"  at  his  earl\' sermons.  Ilearers 
came  tifly  miles  and  in  could  rarely  enter  a  church  hut  throui:li 
the  windows. 

Ai:aiii  at  London  he  t'aced  the  mol)  of  f!ie  theaters  ;it  Longaerc. 
The  actors  >liowed  well  the  nature  ot"  their  calliiii!",  Imt  Tottenham 
chapel  i>  a  monument  of  \\'hiteliel(rs  and  the  (lospeTs  victory. 

At  Duhlin,  after  a  sermon  on  a  i:reen,  he  came  near  receiviiiir 
his  "parliiiu"  Mow  from  Satan."  He  had  to  go  through  half  a 
mile  of  furious  Papists.  His  com|)anioiis  tied:  he  was  liit  with 
many  siono  :  he  h;^ped.  lik«'  Stephen,  "to  he  dispatched  and 


li'O 


oil'  in  tlii<  hloody  triumph"  to  the  presence  of  his  Lord.  He 
at  IcMigth  reached  a  hou>e  where  his  wounds  were  washed,  and 
after  many  other  )»eriis  he  joined  at  the  i)reaching-h()U.se  in  a 
hymn  of  prai>e  to  lliiu  who  controls  the  madness  of  the  people. 

Ixeturiiiiig  to  London,  he  lor  a  while  hlciids  with  his  hrethren, 
for  hi-  health  was  poor  and  they  I'cdicved  him  in  his  services. 
In  ITtil  came  )ii<  only  absolute  inter\al  from  preaching.  It  was 
but  a  few  weeks,  and  then  liirough  extreme  weakness  he  preached 


M 


L'ah.'in isft<;  Jlt'f/ioiJtsnt . 


171 


Imt once  u  day!  II«'  wciu  tor  tli«'  sixth  liiiic  to  Amcricii,  and 
-till  in  his  t'uliH'ss  ot"  )t(»\v«'r.  Ffoiii  li(i>t()ii  to  Savannah  the  i-rv 
\va>  :  "  Foi-  ( 'hrist's  sake  stay  and  piTach  to  u>  !  "* 

lu  Ihiiiland  auain,  h(>  I'clt  hi'oUcn  with  thirty  ycai's  ot'snch  lahor. 
"  ( )  to  «'iid  lil'c  Avcll  !  "  \\  as  now  his  thoniiht.  For  the  next  I'oui 
vt-ars.  he  "  ranu'('<r'  whrii  he  foidd  and  >iiok('  to  thonsands  iVoni 
liis  "  licld-thronr."  with  "  1  i^ht  and  lil'c  llyiiii:'  in  all  directions." 
lie  Avas  tli't't'dy  ot'  tiinr.  as  il'awai'c  that  he  had  litth-  rcniaininii' ; 
lie  was  exact  even  to  his  meals  ;  he  was  nei'\<»us  Mini  even  iirita- 
lilc.  Ot'this  he  was  aware  and  said  with  tcai>  :  "  I  shall  li\'e  to 
he  a  jx'i'vish  old  man  and  eveiyhody  w  ill  he  fire<l  ot'  me."  lie 
\va>  ))lain  in  Ids  diet,  hut  Avished  <deuance  in  its  scrviii::'.  In  his 
)(M)m  and  |»ersoi\  he  was  daintily  neat.  "I  donht  it"  1  should 
(lie  easy,  it'  1  thonu'ht  my  gloves  were  out  of  place."  He  was 
never  williui:"  that  any  sleep  het'oi'*'  ten.  or  at'tei*  t'our.  in  his 
liouse.  Jlis  ))opidarity  wearied  him.  "I  en\y  the  man  who 
can  take  his  choice  ot'  t'ood  at  an  eatinii-hou>e."'  \l\>  marriaiic^ 
was  not  happy  and  his  only  child  died  het'ore  u-«  t'atln'i\  At  the 
ilay  ot' its  death,  he  preached  twice  amid  his  tear>.  and  o;ct'  on 
the  day  of  its  hurial.  So  stranii'ely  was  everythinu'  hent  to  his 
life's  one  woi'k  and  callinu'  ! 

In  tins  last  stay  in  l-Jiiiland.  his  work  wa>  as  valnalile  a>  ever. 
Jle  conse<rated  chaptds,  called  out  new  lahorer--  and  inspirited 
those  already  at  work.  He  took  his  t"riend>  to  \\  (•<iey'>  ( 'on- 
tereiices  and  ^^'esley  received  him  a-  a  hroiher.  endeared  hy 
like  labors  and  sntl'erinu's.  It  w  as  "  a  conifortalile  and  prolitaMe 
houi''' spent  together  in  calling' to  mind  the  foi'iner  lime>.  how 
ihey  had  heen  enliu'hlcned  and  what  (io(l  |\;id  doue  i»v  them. 
^^  hitetiidd  was  now.  ITi!!'.  siidviuL:  lo  iii>  i-e>t ,  "An  old.  old 
man,  fairly  worn  out  in  his  MM^ter".>  >er\  ice  !"  \v\  he  wa-  t«'U 
years  younger  than  \V'e>ley,  who  so  >peaks. 

This   vuar,  he    w  i-ote    \\'e>le\   a    teuder    t'ai'cwcll   ;ind    let't    the 


'1 


II!!'*' 


'!':!6 


'1 


Mi, 


I'        r' 


41.)" 

if-r 


■h 


II 


(tai^^ 


H 


172 


77f''    Shin/   iif  Mtflinil (Sill. 


•\S\ 


Kii<_''l!iii(l     of    liis     love     and    laliors     torcvci-.      A"^    ( icorLHa,  tlio 

"  lU'llicsda"    oil    wliicli    lie    had     lal)()r(Ml    tliii'ty-t\v(»     vcars    was 

|)ro>|)('i"oiis,  and  tlic  (•ol,)n_v  I'ccoiriii/cd  liiiii  as  a    hcnctactoi'.     "  I 

am    lia|)i)i<'r   llian    words   can   cxju'css  I "  >aid    lie  ovi-i"  it.      Soon 

al'tcr  liis  dcatli   it    was   dcsti'oycd    l»y  lire   and  1o-da_v  the   tiavclt-r 

Huds  no  trace  of  it,  l»nt   many  a    benevolence   lias   taken    its  place 

in  the  fair  citv  of  Savannah.      His   si)ii'ited   V(»ice  s(»ai'ed   thron^h 

all  this  consummative     year.     "  Ilallehijah ""    was    in    his    letters. 

**.My  soul  is  on  the  winir  for  another  (ios|»el  raniic  I"     Kaniic  he  did. 

At  the  north,  as  far  as  to  Alhany  and  the  then  western  frontier,  he 

preached  almost    daily. 

lie   yearned    over   the 

possiltilities  "of  this  new 

world."     liis  last  wi'itten 

words   were  on   the  tour 

U|)  the  Hudson  :  "( Jrace  ! 

(i  race  ;■■     At    \\  xet  er, 

N.    II..   he   s))oUe    in   tho 

o|)en  ail'  to  a   vast   u'ath- 

erini2",  and,  ca  r  r  ied  l»e- 

yoiid  his  own  control,  for 

two    hours.      It    was   the 

!a«-t    utterance    from   the 

'' ticld-throne  "    where   for  avihtkiiki.d's  iim-sE,  GViLroun,  conv. 

lhirt\-four  yars  he,  like  a  sovereign,  had  ruhwl  the  miiihly 
people  as  no  oratcu'  Iiefore  or  since  had  ">wayed  at  will  the 
tieri  ■   democratic.' 

The  next  day  lie  was  to  }»reacli  at  N«'wliurvport,  .Mas>.  Kearli- 
iuir  the  place  that  evening;',  h<'  was  at  >upper.  when  crowds  at  the 
«loor  W(»uld  hear  a  few  word>.  lie  was  exliauste(l  and  took  a  can- 
dle to  ret  ire.  ()nthe  stair>,  he  faltered  and  tuimed  t(»  addre>s 
them.      His   \(»ice   \\a-   clear,  and  tlii^.    lis   l.i-t    exhortation,  like 


v^»'^ 


ii 


I 


(JllJ^'il)  isf'ic     Mll/lltll  istii . 


po 


(.) 


Cliarlos  Wr>l«'v"s  last  livniii,  wa^  t'uU   n{'  swi-ct.  .-ad   inusit 


TT. 


V 


s))()kc  lill   liis  raiidlc.   like   lil>  life.    l»iirin'(l  away    in   il>   -ofkcl. 
lie  L''<)t  to  Ills  room 

•'And  when  the  sun  in  all  his  state 
] Hunted  the  <'astern  skies, 
lie  passed  throu^rh  ( ilorv's  morning  gate, 
And  walked  in  Paradise." 

lit'  awoke  at  two  Willi  nsllinia.  "\  liad  rallicr  wear  out  than 
ru-t  out,"  said  lie  to  liis  companion  who  spoke  of  h'ss  ])iTarhini;. 
lie  >at  and  j)ray('d  loi-  a  blessing  on  his  ju-eat-hini:'.  his  Uethesda, 
his  Tahernaele,  his  "  eonm*c1ions  th(M)lher  side  oI"i1m'  water."  .Vt 
the  window,  ])anting  for  ])realh,  he  said,  quiet ly  :  "1  am  dyinL^"' 
and  at  si.\  he  breathed  no  more.  In  all  the  ('oloni<'s  there  was  a 
l;urst  of  )»ublie  sorrow,  and  in  (Jeorji'ia  all  the  mourniiiiT  t'loth  was 
used  at  his  funeral. 

In  l^ondon,  all  the  ehajx.  Is  were  di'ape*!,  and  Wesley,  to  whom 
lie  left  a  inourninii"  rinir  w  ith  a  re(|uest  that    h«'  j)reaeh  the   t'lineial 


ermon.  delivered  it  re|)eatedl_\ 


1  it 


In  every  place  I  w  i>h  to   -h 


ow 


all  possil)le  respect  to  the  nienioi'y  ot'  that  i:reat  and  eood  man." 
Charles  ])oured  his  enuitions  into  a  toiu-hini!'  ;in(l  Ix-autit'ul  elcny. 
The  remains  ol'  the  irreat  pi'eachcr  lie  beneath  the  ])ul|)it  at 
Xewbui'v))oi't,  and  many  iVom  fai-  and  near  visit  the  ancient 
church  to  revere  his  memory,  'riiey  should  be  hi  Knu'lish  .-oil, 
and  his  face  should  at  AN'estminster 

'•  Look  down  on  marbles  covering  marble  dust." 

He  had  preached  eiuhteon  thousand  sermons.  His  hearers  can- 
not l»e  reckoned,  but  no  speaker  in  all  recoi'ds  evei'  addressed  so 
many  of  his  fellow  men.  or  allectetl  them  so  deeply. 

Around   Ladv   Hunt iuL^don,  meanwhile,  aro-e  a   larire  circle  of 


lab 


•  rers.      In    17f(L>,    sli 


e.    w 


ith   some   ot"  her   lie-t    men.    attended 


('(•nterence  at  Leeds,  and  there  mo<t  i»t'  the  L'reat  leaders  of  Meth- 
odism took  sweet  coun>el  tonethcr.     She  went  to  many  places  with 


■■:l 


,l,i»|ri 

It     M 
|i     I* 

HI  •'; 

II'  'li 

111  >l 


Ml 


!*1 


■W    '" 

:';    ■ 

'  1              .'(l 

I 


) 

ill 


lilt 


Mil 


aiK 


CI  I 


W 


.\( 


(  'ill rill  isf  I'r    Mi'f/ioiltsiii . 


17:> 


hor  cliMpliiins.  mid  \\:is  ;U  tlicir  |>r<':icliiiiii' In  nid  mikI  coiiitni't  lliciii. 

liiit  slic  never  (Icscciwli'd  tVoin  llic   drconiiii    ul"  a    woliiaii  Miid  llic 

di,i:Mi(y  ul'  a  l*c('r('»  o!"  ilic  l{«'alni.     Slic  was 

"  A  Mol)lo  vomun.  wisely  pluniu'd 
To  ('(Mnfort,  counsel,  iiiid  coninmnd.'' 

Slic  liad  no  call  lo  jjarlakc  in  j)iil»lir  exercises.  Tiitorestinir  men 
Mi'(»e  ani<)M<:"  lier  lay  ])i'eacliei'>.  .l(»naJliaM  Scotl.  of  an  lionoialtle 
family,  was  captain  <»!'  <li'a!:(»()ns.  and  liad  fonulil  "on  ^linijcn's 
plain.''  He  was  a  dasliinu*  soldiei-,  Iml  in  llxM.atlle  lie  came  1o 
de>pi-><'  meie  ;ininial  I»ra\ei'y.  \  iai'mer,  nnder  \\li(»e  root' lie 
retreatecl  iVoin  a  slorm  wlicn  linnlinu",  called  liis  afleiilion  1o 
]»()maine's  j»reaeliini:"  in  a  neii:lil>oriiiii"  liall.  The  next  Sniiday  llie 
cajilain  al(end<'d,  an<l  tiie  sermon  on  "  1  am  the  A\'ay"  ln'(»nL;hl 
liim  to  Clirisl.  He  heuan  to  |)reach  to  liis  men,  and  soon,  in  uni- 
I'orm,  w;is  speakiiiii'  t(t  "ama/.ini;'  cr(»wds."  At  IMadeley,  he 
j)r('a<'lied  t\\  ice  on  :i  Sunday  to  an  immense  assembly,  the  ( 'ountess 
listeJiinjj",  and  the  next  day  to  a  still  larger  concourse  near  l>y. 
Fletcher  called  him  "a  <aptain  ot"  the  ti'iilh.'*  "T  Lelieve  liis  j-ed 
coiit  will  shauM'  many  a  Mack  one.      I  am  >iire  he  shames  me.'' 

AN'hitetield  had  ilie  captain  at  London,  "to  try  wliat  execntioii 
he  can  do  here."'  At  tin-  TalK'niacle  his  voice  failed,  and  he  Itnrst 
into  tears  liet'ore  the  immense  audience,  yet,  rallyinii',  he  iiave  an 
impressive  sermon.  Jle  LiaNe  up  the  army,  sold  his  commission, 
and  liecame  a  preacher.  Fori  went  v  years  lie  served  in  his  sacred 
cilliiiu'. 

There  came  also  to  the  ('ountess  "a  >liark  I'rom  the  ocean." 
Torial  .loss,  a  Scotch  lad,  was  early  a  sailor,  with  many  an 
adventure.  \\'interini:"  on  the  coa-1  ot"  Yorkshire,  he  joined  the 
.Metho<li>t^,  lici^an  to  exhort.  aii<l  liainecl  the  e\  e  and  ap|)ro\al  ot' 
W  »'>lev.  .\s  sailoi'.  he  wa-;  an  e\  ani^cli^t  hotli  afloat  and  a>liore. 
At    r»o>1on.    l"'-ni;land,  Iv   prcadieil  hi^  tir-t  rei^nlar  sei'moii  and  it 

lip   ami    was 


was  deeply  inipres>i\e.      lie  ioiil\   cniiimaiH 


11. 


<1    (.f    a    si 


ff 


■cl  ^ 


I 


If! 


'  m 


.;..!  f 


•Kilt; 


11 

M 


m 


■■1 
I   111 


'■\ 


\\r^ 


ri 


17(i 


The  ^'Stovi/  of  M(ff/mh'.sm, 


ii(  onco  captain  and  cliaplain.  lli.>  vrsx-l  was  a  church  on  the 
waves,  and  his  men  could  j>ray  and  exhort. 

Disiolcrs  were  nieeliiii:'  him  on  the  sea.  l»ul  hi>  >hip  wa>  liald- 
iuiithe  <hai!ictei'  that  ;iave  her  anionir  saih)rs  the  name  ot"  " 'I'he 
Pul])!!."'  when  AN'hileliehl  calh'd  liim  I'rom  the  I)own>.  where  his 
shi[)  lav,  to  ])reacli  in  the  Tahernach'.  At"ter  sexcial  sei'inons, 
AN'liiteliehl  ui'ii'ed  him  to  leav(^  th(^  seas  and  enter  tlie  niini>try. 
Joss  liesitated.  Tlien  <lisast«M's  followed  :  tin'  captain's  hrotlier 
was  didwned,  and  the  like  went  on  until  W'hiteliejd  said  :  "  If"  yon 
still  rel'nse  to  hearken  to  the  call  of  (lod,  hoth  y<»u  and  yoiu" 
ship  will  soon  ii'o  to  the  hottom,"  lie  yielded,  and  hecanie  a 
j)reacher  of  far-spread  fame  and  usefuln(^ss.  Foi*  thirty  yeais  he 
preached  in  London  and  al»road,  counted  in  el()(|u<'nce  "second  to 
\\hitetieldonl\." 

()i\e  year,  the  Countess,  itin<;ratin_ir  with  hei- chaplains,  who  thus 

bore  the  (lospel  with  a  wide  front,  came  to  ('heltenham,  the  seat 

of  Lord   Dartmouth.  tlu'U  First  Lord  of  Ti'adc.  Privy  ( 'ounciloi' 

and  Secrt'tary  of  Stat*'  for  America.      He   was  also  a  AIeth()di>t 

and  i)atron  of  Daitinouth  Colleire,  X.  IL     Of  him  ( 'owper  said  : 

"  We  boast  soine  rich  ones  whom  the  (iospel  sways, 
And  one  who  wears  n  (-oronct  and  prays." 

The  Lail  had  irathere(l  an  inunense  assend)ly.  yet  the  rector 
refused  to  open  the  church  for  A\'hitetield  to  ))reach.  From  a 
tond)ston(^  he  cried,  "  H(!  I  cNcry  one  that  thirsteth  I"  The  Karl 
and  his  family,  the  Countess  and  other  irenti'v,  stood  to  hear,  and 
the  siiiht  of  such  jjcople  thus  shut  from  tlu^  chui'ch  of  their  kiuir 
anil  ancestors,  while  thousands  with  them  hungered  tor  the  Bread 
of  Ld'e.  was  indeed  impri'ssive.  Loi'd  Dartmouth's  mansion  shel- 
tered the  evani!('li>ts.  and  at  eveninir  all  his  rooms  and  urounds 
wei'c  thronged  with  eager  listeiu'rs. 

At  this  time  al)out  forty  clergxnn'u  of  the  Church  wei'e  "e\an- 
jjelical."     AVeslev  tried   in  vain  t(»  form  some    liasi>  on  which  ai\ 


C'dh.'iil  isfi'r    Mrflnul Isiii , 


171 


could  I'csl,  and  >()nic  |ilaii  l>v  uliicli  :tll  coiiM  liann()iii<ni>ly  woiU. 
At  Iciiv'tli.  Iiiuix'll",  hi-  liiollirr.  Ladv  I  Iiiiiliiii:<l(iii  ami  Wliilfiicld 
runiicil  a  "  i|iiadrii|ili'  alliance."'  C)!"!!!!-.  \\'c^lry  riinii^lifij  ihc 
line  «'()ii>|i'u«'!i\»'  hraiii  :  and  llii>  llic  ( '«iiiMlf>s  prrcciN nl.  and  of 
llial  Iti'ain  >\w  iVi'cIy  made  u>»'.  Slic  saw  the  iiccij  of  an  fdnca- 
li(»nal  inslitiitioii.  Tin' sludcnls  Inrllic  Mclli()di>l  work  had  Mnall 
I'lvor  at  ()xford.  Six  sludi'iils  of  ( )xt'ord  wn-c  I»imui:1i1  lo  li-ial 
"  foi'  lioldiniT  .M('tlio<li>lii'  Icncls,  and  laUinir  upon  llicnisch cs  to 
pray,  read  and  expound  llir  S(  riplui'cs  in  pi'ixalc  houses."  Tliry 
were  aMy  dcfciKU'd  l»y  llie  principal  of  tlicir  own  college — St. 
Kdinunds — I>ul  tlicy  were  expelled — an  indii:nify  like  tlial  pu* 
upon  Wiclif  four  luiudred  years  hefore.  The  case  was  stirred 
throuuh  all  Kniiland.  and  the  Miice  of  the  l)e->t  denouncecl  it. 
AVcslcy's  inai'riaii'e  had  emled  his  Fellowship.  l>ut  W'hitelield 
v.role  I'orcildy  to  the  \'ice-chancell()r.  Lady  llunliniidon  had 
supported  these  youni;'  men.  She  was  now  accused  oj'  st'ducinu" 
them  froiu  tlieir  trades  that  they  miuht  at  her  «'xpeuse  "  >kidk 
into  ordei's."  She  might  now  with  uood  reason  open  her  school 
at  Ti'cvecca. 

Jn  Auiiiist.  ITt'ili.  the  fu'st  anni\ei-ary  <»l"  thi>  xhool  was  cele- 
liratcd.  All  the  i:i-eat  evanL;cli>ts  were  ihei-e,  and  lor  a  week 
.".ci'Uions  and  other  reliiiious  exercises  wcrehatl.  with  i;ieat  allend- 
uiicc,  in  Ihe  castle  yard.  The  morniuLi'  ol"  the  anni\ cr^iai-y  wa> 
L'iven  to  ihe  Holy  ('onmumion.  .Vfter  a  >ermon  l»y  i'le'cher  came 
()n<'  in  AVelsh,  after  which  all  were  fed  iVom  the  liounty  of  the 
toriiidrcss.  in  the  afternoon,  \\'esley  ^jave  a  sei'Uion.  and  as  did 
auain  I'Metcher.  The  day  ended  with  a  lovc-l'ea^l,  at  which 
Knulish  and  AN'elsh  were  with  e(|ual  lVee(lom  used  to  set  t'orth  the 
\V()ii(h'rful  works  of  ( iod.  It  was  a  d:'y  of  true  e\  au^tdical  harmony 
ami  the  Itlessnii:"  on  it  \\a>  like  the  dew  that  t'cll  upon  the  Ulouill* 
niiis  of  Ziou. 

The  time  of  <(»ulrovel-^\    wa-    Vet  to  come.      ( 'ome  il  mu^t.  foi 


III  iMl 


I' 


I 


n  !    P 


m 


! 


!»♦  r 


MV!J 

III  il 

"•'III 


iiU-    ' 


V 


:t 


■  :i;ti 


II 1 

: 

,Ii;llN    WI.SLLV    I'lIl-ALlllNi.    l.\   A    I'ltlVATK    UOI  Si; 


(Jiili'liiisfif    Ml  lltml 


/■•<ni . 


i:i> 


"  this  is  the  -intc  ol"  111:111  "  ;    luit  tlicrt'  could  iidl  lie  n  licttcf  pfcpu- 

I'Ml  i<ill   I'nr  it  .   to  >('Clir('   it>  liriM'tiK  ;ili(l  ;i  V  oid   \\-  cs  iU,    lli:m    -Ufil  :i 

(l.'iy  ;i>  ll:i'>  :iiiiii\ cr^iiry  mI  Ti'fx cccm. 

'I'jici'c  nic  yd  xniH-  iiicii  lo  In-  iioicil.  NN'.'illci"  Shirley  \v:i>  \\y<\ 
(•(iiisin  to  Ii!i<ly  lIiiiiliiiL:<l<)ii.  ><>ii  ol"  'In-  l^iirl  dl"  ["'citcis  :iii(l  con- 
iicttt'd  with  r(iy:il  linciiiic  His  visits  lo  the  ('(Hiiili'^s  lirnm^ht 
liim  into  the  coiiiptmy  of  her  cliMpliiins,  and  lo  \'cnn  In  iitt rilmtcd 
liis  convci'sion.  He  \v;is  idi-cndy  :i  chM'uyiniin  and  he  now  cnlci'cd 
llic  toils  of  Methodism.  The  reii'nliU'  cleruy.  In  spile  oTIiis  hiiih 
rank,  at  once  shut  him  iVom  their  pulpits,  and  lie  >Iiare(l  the  same 
I'epi'oMch  as  his  humhier  Iti'ethren.  I  lis  curate,  1  )e  ( 'ourcy ,  I'ollow- 
cd  his  examph^  and  lasted  his  cup.      I''..\p(dled  from  St.  Andrews, 


Did.l 


m,   he   preai 


•lM«d  1 


Vom  a   tombstone,  and,  refused  oi'( 


iinat 


loti 


hy  the  l)i>hop,  he  heeame  an  ellective  Alethodist.  At  London, 
Whitelicdd  showed  him  a  deep  scar  on  his  head,  worn  from 
llifit  dar  on  Duhlin  irrocn.  "I  izot  this,  sir,  in  your  country,  fer 
preaching'  ("hi-ist." 

Shirley's  brother  had  kille(l  his  sei'vant  for  show  mi:"  kindness  to 
Ihe  wife,  whom  Parliament  had  divorcecl  from  the  wretched  Karl, 
iier  husband.  For  this  ad  the  Kail  was  tried  l)y  the  House  of 
Lords  and  sentenced  to  l>e  execulccl.  Shirley,  liady  Iluntinu'don 
and  others  tried  in  vain  t(»  prejtai'c  the  criminal  for  his  tale,  lie 
died  <lepraved,  fantastic,  and  doid)tless  insane. 

Shirley  sought  the.  synrpathy  of  the  \\'esl('ys,  and  for  ten  years 
kept  with  them  a  close  relation.  His  own  tield  in  Ireland  called 
foiih  all  his  maidy  and  Christian  virtues.  His  only  friend  in  the 
( 'liurch  was  his  Archl)ish(>p  of  Tuam,  to  whom  r>i>liop.  archdeacon 
rtiid  I'urates  were  ever  ruuninii'  with  eharifes  of  heresy.  "()  your 
;:i'ace,"  came  sayini:"  <»ue  day  the  cuiateoi"  Louu'hrea.  "  \  have  such 
a  circiunstance   to  connmmicate    to   Mm  as   will  astoni>h    nou  !" 


Indeed,    and    what    can    it    li 


W 


IN'.    m\' 


Ltd'd. 


ai( 


1   th 


curate,  solenndy,  "he  wears  white  stockiui:.- 
12 


\'erv  anticlerical 


itiillf 


411' 


ita 


Hlfil 


l(»  l( 


iiul 


M 


t 


fl 


•  I 


it 


if 


li 


;'  f  * 


I  ^i'l 


.so 


The  Sfuri/  tit'  Mf'f/foi/isi4. 


and  vory  di-radl'iil   iiulrrd  I"     Tlic  prtlatr  -poUca-  if  Sliiilcy  wet-*? 
now  "<r<>nc."     Pi-awini:"  liis  clinii'    m-ar  flic    (•(•nlidcnl    inlnnnri-; 


Do 


LM'n<-(' 


M 


r.    Sliiili'\-    wear    llii-ni    .i\rr    lu- 


ll' 


N 


(».    voni 


\va>  lln'  an->\vt'r  in  siir] 


»n>t' 


Wrll. 


<ii',   the   lir>t   tiiiii 


yon  sec  liiin   w  illi  lii>  >to«'Uini:s  over  liis   Imio1>.  pray  inloiMii  nir 


and  I   shall  deal   uilli  liiin  accordinvl.\ 
more  sncli  prelates  I 


^\'ell.   liad    there    heeii 


Shirley  nwnle  I'nll  pi'oot'of'his  inini>try.  and 
Ills  nohle  cousin  s;iid  ot'  liiin  :  "  lUesscd  arc  the  li|»s  that  ])f()claini 
the  ;j:lad  t idin^s  of  salvation  t<t  the  poor,  llu^    i;xi><>rant    and   the 


vieion- 


The  Hills,  ii  family  of  bnrrinial  rank  sniee  l.']()0,  and  still  nioi- 
fanie(l  for  li\(^  gallant 
brothers  at  AN'aterloo,  for 
a  eonnnander-in-ehief  of 
the  Ijriti>li  arniv,  for  the 
lirst  riMttcstiiiit  I^ord 
Mayor  of  London,  and 
for  the  Father  of  Penny 
Postage,  now  gave  liieli- 
ard  and  Rowland  Hill  to 
Methodism.  Under  con- 
vietions  which  travel  and 
d  issipat  ions  eonld  not 
dissipate,  Piehard  wrote 
to  Fletcher.  Avho, ■walking 


som;"  mi 


les  t 


o  meet  linn 


t  h 


d  1 


showed  liim  tho  wav  ol 


)eace 


Powlandaf  Cam- 


ItOWLANU  Illl.L. 


bridge  led  a  sort  of  Holy  ( 'lub,  and  was  not  balHcd  by  pi-rsccii- 


lions  or 


bv  tl 


le  expulsion  o 


)f  otl 


ler 


-lane,  a  sister  walkini:"  with 


God  at  home,  wrote  constantly  to  her  br(tthers  to  contirm  them  in 
tlie  faith.     The  parents  misunderstood  IJowiand,  felt  disgraced  in 


f  'ill r nusf  >!■    Ml  I liml isiii , 


\S\ 


iiii 

liii 


liilll.  illld  l:;i\(>  llilli  little  IliDlirv.  "('|c:i\r  ulilv  tlir  tiidir  t(i 
,l(-ll-'."'  Ufntc  Jailf.  uIkoi-  l(,\t'  Mini  Illct'klU'-.-.  " -.jioin-  ii|mi|i  »'\- 
(r\lMMly  liiit  licr^cll"."'  She  iirncil  jiiin  to  ■.(•(•!<  \.m\\  limit  innilnii. 
I'.cirid;^"',  t(»(»,  licMi'tciii'd  voiiiii:'  Wnwliiiid.  Ini'tlifV  wcii'  liy  iiatuiT 
;ikiii  nl"  liiiiMoi'.  /('mI.  i:('iicr<»>it y  and  ol"  ('(■criitricity  :i>  wi-lj. 

Wlicii  llir  six  >tiidriil>  were  cxiu'llcd  iVom  ()\lor(l,  Kirliai'd 
Hill  put  out  tun  |)aMi|)lil(>ts  in  tlicii'  dt'l'm*-*'.  wliidi  did  not  iin- 
|ii(i\t'  K'owlaiid'-*  cli.'inccs  jni-  ordination.  Six  l»i>lio|)s  refused  to 
(ti'daill  liilll.  lie  then  went  out  as  a  iVee  laiiee"iiit(>  the  devil's 
It  riilofies."  ( )n  hi-^  \\'td>h  ))oiiy  he  went  at  lafire.  |)f«'aehiii,ir  in 
the  liii!li\vays,  pi-isons  ni-  chapels,  and  iceeiviuL''  Ids  full  share  of 
heidi<'  tfealiueiit.  A  hall  was  lired,  passiiii;-  iieai"  his  head,  while 
|ireatliini:'.  At  home,  his  pai'eiits  pei'seeuled  him,  hut,  hy  the  la- 
lioi-  of  himself,  K'iehai'd  an*l  the  e'entle  .lane,  live  of  the  family, 
uilli  many  sei'vaiits  and  neii:hl»ofs.  came  to  ('hrist.  In  lii>  old 
:i;je.  I)eiiitr  llx'ii  always  irreeted  at  the  family  mansion,  he  once 
Miid  :  "  llow  often  have  I  paced  this  ten'ace,  hitterly  weepini:' : 
while  liy  ino-t  of  the  inhahitaiits  of  yonder  house  I  was  considered 
!i  (lisLirace  to  jiy  lainily.  IJiit  it  was  for  the  cause  ot"  my  (iod.'' 
Ikii'liard.  who  had  pleached,  thouirh  a  layman,  and  who  had  been 
induced  hy  his  stci'ii  |)afents  to  tiive  up  such  "  ii'i'cuularit ies,"  was 
x'lit  to  persuade  ivowland  to  (1(»  the  same,  lie  tound  him  pi-eachini;" 
;il  Kiiiii-'Wood  to  t  lioiisaiids  of  colliers,  whose  tears  were  wa>hinir 
ihcii'  lilackened  faces,  Kowland  pl'cached  all  the  inoi'e  eafiiestly 
fur  >eein,ii"  Ivichard  in  the  coniireuiition,  and  closing',  shoutcil  r 
''My  l>rotlier,  Uichard  Hill,  lvs(|.,  will  preach  here  to-morrow." 
S(i  Kichai'<l  <lid.  and  fi'oi:i  that  hour  became  liowland"-"  failht'ul 
helper. 

I'.xcry  one  loved  Rowland.  Droll  BerridL'e  wrote  to  Lady  Ilunt- 
iiiu'doii :  "  He  is  a  pretty  youuir  spaniel,  lit  for  land  or  water,  and 
li;i^  a  wonderful  yt'l]).'"  To  Uowland  he  irave  irood  couu.sel  : 
''Fear  iiothiuii"  but   voursolf:  look  simpiv  t(»  .lesus,  and  while  the 


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l.s;3 


Li)V<l  i;ivcs  you  >(iuihI  luiii:">  and  Ivavclinir  liciiltli.  1)l(iw  your  horn 
>(iiin<ll\'.''  II<^  could  cxprc^-i  in  his  counlciiMUcc  cNciy  cuiotiou 
liut  I'car.  Sheridan  s;iid  :  "I  L'd  to  hear  Hill,  lor  his  ideas  conie 
rcd-lK)l  iVom  his  lieiirt."  Dean  Milner  s;iid  to  him:  "Mr.  Hill,  I 
/r/M(»-day  ;  it  istlii>  shijMlash  j)reaehinu'.  >ay  what  they  will,  that 
does  idl  tho  jrood." 


biairiuij  and  ICnr/ravimj  ''!/  ■■'.    \i'iiin.<fiiir.</. 

sruuKV  cini'r.i-,  i.ondov,  DruiNu  ihvink  skuvki:. 

His  wit  went  sonictinit'sj  too  far.  He  esilli'd  Ladv  Huutinudon 
hy  some  luuuorou.s  term,  as  a  t'eniinine  a})o>tle,  and,  though  she 
had  heard  Idni  as  "u  second  A\'liiteheld."  she  never  foriravo  him. 
"Mr.  Ilill  caiuiot  preach  for  ?//'."  lit;  took  orders  as  deacon  and 
Went  on  liy  Innisolf.  JJo  hiiilt  Surrey  ('liai)el  in  the  wor>t  ))art()f 
London,  and  he  signed  himself  "  iVishop  o<^"  Surrey  ("liajxd  and  of 


I'll! 


•f: 


tin 

II'    ■**' 

l\'    '* 

'    II 
,ii    '' 

I..    .} 

II'    .J 


ui. 


II 


\H4: 


The  >'^'/'>i'i/  ftf  Mcflioii  >,<,,■)„ 


i  m 


J 


I  I 


nil  llic  wjistc  ])liic<'s  ill  the  kiiiu'doin."  Foi'  lifty  ycMi's  lie  prt'iiclu'd 
(here  mid  "cs cry  wlicrc,"  liiidiui:'  iiuiiiciix'  ;i>>ciiil>Ii('s  in  mH  pliiccs. 
2so  r)i>li()i)  ever  out \v(irk('<l  Iiim.  or  Imd  iiKirc  iiilliiciicc. 

To|)I;i(Iy,  writer  ot""  U'ock  ol' Atics,""  \v;is  mm  chKiucnt  and  circct- 
i\c  ]U'<','icli(M'.  lie  had  li('ar<l  al  the  I'liivcrsily  llic  hcsl  prcacliiiii;' 
(it'llic  day.  and  was  uiiaircct('(l.  l-'orlii,-.  licaltli  lie  raiiihlcd  in  lre« 
laud,  and  one  Sunday,  slrollin;:'  in  wiici't'  a  dull  prcaclicr  was 
spcakini:'  lo  a  poor  handful,  his  iicarl  was  lonchcd  and  he  l>ocame 
a  Christian.  "How  was  il  thai  I  was  so  dealt  with?  \\'as  it  not 
liy  s})('('ial  liracc,  and  in  (iod's  own  time?"  He  easily  took  lo 
Calvinism,  and  v.as  not  only  a  I'ai'e  and  etlective  ])reaelier,  l)ul 
the  staunehest  Calvinist ic  writer  oi' his  day. 

Such  are  some  ot"  the  Christian  heroes  ot"  the  jx'i'iod.  It'too 
niueli  spaee  is  <iiven  tlieui  in  this  story,  il  is  Ix-eause  ihevarcmon 
at  whom  it  is  eheorinu'  to  look,  and  ae(|Uiiiiitant'(;  Avitli  thorn  raises 
our  ideas  of  human  iioodness. 


I  i 


w 


!       n 


CIIAPTKH    XIV. 

Tlic   (  'ih'i'iiish'c    Conf I'orr I'xij. 

,^^^[X  years  dt"  (•(iiitr(i\('r>y  now  caiiic.  ^W'slcy  at 
Conrcrciicc  asked  :  "Have  we  not  leaned  (oo 
nnieli  towards  ( 'ahinism  'l"  The  liattle  over  tlu^ 
^^  answer  to  this  raided  hard,  and  all  the  "heroes" 
Avlioni  Ave  have  named  took  part  therein.  It 
has  little  interest  for  the  general  reader  of  to-day,  and  its 
story  need  not  be  told,  only  that  after  it  the  sky  eleared,  and  love 
and  peace  prevailed.  It  eonxineed  nohody  :  all  went  on  as  Itefore, 
In  1770,  anc^ther  festival  was  held  at  'I'reveeea,  at  Avhieh  NN'esley 
was  eonspieuous  by  his  absence.  Lady  IIunt«in_2'(l()n.  after  his 
''We  have  leaned  too  much,  etc.,"  had  wi-itten  to  him  that,  while 
lie  so  held,  he  could  never  ])reach  in  her  ])ulpits.  IJut  he  had 
eiiouiih  else  to  do. 

Fletcher,  who  had  been  ])resident  at  'Prevecca.  nov, ,  ^'or  the 
same  reason,  tof)k  his  leave  in  a  warm,  ii'enerous  and  noble  temp(>r, 
coimnending  the  nolde  Countess  and  all  her  works  to  the  help  and 
fav(»r  of  Ciod. 

Trevecca  flourished.  Its  foundress  spent  there  most  of  her 
tini(\  and  its  students  evanncli/.ed  the  country  for  thirty  miles 
around,  and  from  them  her  pul})its  were  steadily  replenished. 

Its  commeneements  were  like  eamp-meetin<rs.  In  a  largo  field 
were  put  "a  thousand  and  three  hundred  horses,"  after  the  stall 
yards  of  the  villaires  were  full  :  from  a  ]»latform  reliirious  services 
were  conducted  in  AVelsh  and  KniLli^-h  before  gathered  thousands, 


jjHlttl 


^■1 


I   'If 


,..     .< 
''i      'I 


V 

i 

•          t 

1 
i 

^  i 


\ 
\ 

s 

I 


111 


m 


ls»i 


T/te  Star;/  of  Miilh<>ill,s,n, 


iiiid  cNcry  I'odiii  in  llic  cu^llc  hccunic  :i  ch.-iiicl  lor  exhortation, 
})i'!iy('r  ;iii(l  soiiti'. 

rpon  llic  ('ountcss  now  caiiic  tlic  lnn'dcii  ot'  \\'liitcllol(rs  Or- 
pliaii  llotisc  ill  S.'iviiiiiiali.  Ilalicrsiiam.  AN'liitcticld's  l)rot]i('r 
.Mctliodist,  at  ()xlord.  whose  son  Ix'caiiie  I'ostniaster-u'eiieral  un- 
der \\'ashiiii:t()ii,  was  liis  executor  in  ( i(.'t)i'u:ia.  Jleseiit  ('ornelius 
A\'intei'.  who  had  lahored  with  ^^'llile^ield  in  the  colony,  ])acUed 
l»y  a  letter  I'roiii  its  (iovernor  and  l»y  the  personal  plea  ol' Frank- 
lin, to  he  ordained  in  l^nuiand,  and  so  continue  the  "work  in 
Savannah.  The  IJishop  of  London  rel'iised  to  ordain,  ])artly 
because  the  colonies  ^vere  already  "  relteliious." 

The  Countess  liouii'ht  up  the  whole  propei'ty.  A  missionary 
1)and  was  orii'jinized  at  Trovecca,  after  a  fortniiiht  of  servit-es,  in 
which  the  ui'eat  names  of  tlie  "Connection"  ajipi^ar  as  j)reachers 
and  counselors.  It  was  a  goodly  day  in  T^ondon,  Oct.  21,  when 
tlu^  "destined  vessel,  heavenly  freiuhtod,"  started  down  the 
'IMiames.  The  renewed  pie^y  of  England  thus  oversowed  upon 
the  world,  while  prayer  and  praises  went  up  like  incense  to  the 
skies. 

At  Georgia,  all  ])cgan  well,  and  for  years  tluMr  lal)or  jn'ospercd. 
Then  the  war  came  on.  The  Orpluui  House  was  hurned,  the 
missionaries  returned  to  England,  the  good  work  among  colonists, 
negroes  and  Indians  ceased,  and  at  last  the  property  of  the 
Countess  was  taken  hv  Conar(>ss.  Eminent  men,  AVashiniiton, 
Franklin  and  Laurens,  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  restoration 
of  her  estates,  hut  her  claims  were  never  allowed. 

Quite  a  part  of  Whitetield's  property,  which  he  willed  to  the 
Countess,  consisted  of  tifty  slaves,  men,  women  and  children. 
Their  laI)or  aided  the  Orphan  House.  Gen.  Oglethorpe,  with 
whom  A^'esley  had  gone  to  Georgia,  had  forbidden  slavery.  "It 
w^as  against  the  Gospel,  as  well  as  the  fun(hunental  law  of  En- 
gland." "  Slaves  starve  the  common  laI)orer."     AVhitetield  had,  in 


!    t 


Ul 


TIxj   Calv'tnlsfic   Coiilrnri-rs'i. 


187 


lio 
|n. 
Ith 
lit 
lu- 
ll n 


1740.   potitioncd  flic  tni>t('('>   of  the   (■(il(»ii\   •ur":iii  nllownncc  of 

-liivcs-"'    1111(1    llic    introduction   ol'  ruin  I      lie    I'cuiiiKU   ii^   ot"   L:i> 

Ciisasi,  tin'  (  Mlholic  Uisliop.  wild,  tVoiu  liiuuiiiiity  to  the   IndiMU^, 

urgiMl    AlVicMii   shivery    upon    the    \c\v   \\'(u-ld.      Iii  177:.\   Lord 

Maustield  dct-idt'd  that  Somerset,  a  slave  hrouirlit  to  Fuirlaud.  was 

thereby  free.     Cowper  at  ouee  rose  and  sang, 

"  Slaves  cannot  breathe  in  Kn^ilaml. 
If  their  huigs  receive  our  air,  tint  monient 
Tliey  are  free.     "Tis  noljjo.  spread  it  tlieni  " 

Ten  years  later,  a  t'eehle  boy  at  school  took  these  lines  I'or  hi.s 
school  essay.  Fifty  years  after  his  essay,  he.  dying,  learned  that 
jiis  Eniaucii)ati()ii  15111  had  i)asse(l.  He  was  William  A\'ibei-force. 
Such  was  the  earliest  relation  of  slavery  to  ^Methodism,  and  such 
has  l)een  the  gi-owth  of  ideas.  That  which  A\'hitetield  fostered 
has  shaken  Churches,  has  shaken  Xatious,  but  .shakes  them  now 
no  longer. 

At  this  time  died  Howell  Harris,  the  most  elfective  of  the 
("alviuistie  laborers,  next  to  A\'hiti'tield  himself.  For  this 
reason,  as  well  as  for  the  charm  of  high,  heroic  character,  his 
later  life  may  in  part  be  given.  Of  his  starting  out  W(^  have 
already  written.  Then,  no  oiu'  in  Wales,  whom  he  knew,  "had 
the  true  knowledge  of  Ciod."  Xo  clergyman  noted,  or  tried  to 
stop,  the  immorality  that  deluged  the  land.  He  "had  never 
known  one  man  awakened  b^'  the  preaehiuir  in  the  count rv." 
He  began,  though  a  layman,  to  preach,  even  five  or  six  times  a 
day,  in  barns,  eliureh-yurds  and  wherever  he  could  gather  a  lu^aring. 
Assailed  1)V  mobs,  threateiu'd  bv  mai^istrates,  denounced  bv 
the  cle  'gy.  yet  "  I  was  carried,  as  on  the  wings  of  an  eagle, 
triumphantly  above*  them  all."  Rowlands  and  Davies  andGrifKth 
-lones  rose  up  at  his  side  to  help  him.  A\'liitetield  and  the  W'es- 
Icys  came  often  down  :  religion  became  the  connnon  talk  in  Wales 
and  crowds  went  to  the  preaching.     Ilowells  had  htmible  views 


IDIll 


!!:"!' 


'I'll 

imII 


*t,.M 


ii'rlM  »  1 

Mlill 


'111 


i 


<m 


]'A 


w 


i  ■n.i  I 


i  ' 


\m'. 


ill 


Nilt 


188 


T/if  Slnri/  I  if  }fi-iliii(l  !.-<in. 


ot"lii>  (i\vn  liilts,  lull.  Mt'ici'  -fll-x'Mrcliiiii:'.  lie  liciiid  tlml  lie  could 
i'cl\  (111  ( 'lifist .  "  jiiid  tliat  if  Hi>  lioiior  >Ii(miM  c'iII  iiic  to  >iitrcr 
i  >lioiilil  liiid  lliiii  tiiillil'iil  ill  ('MTV  trial,  in  dciiili.  and  to  all 
eternity."  No  early  \\'el--li  hero.  Arlliiir.  or  ary  Lord  ol"  Snow- 
(loii.  was  ol"  lira\ cr  ( 'aiiilirian  heart.  Ilis  (•(tiilliets  year  alter  year 
were  ])Mst  Iteliet".  heyoiid  those  of  any  other  e\aiii:('li>t .  hlit  ol 
these  we  ('.'miiol  speak  part  ieuhirly.  ( lent  leiiieii  (in  the  Mii;^lisli 
sense,  "men  of  wealth  and  culture"'),  cleru'ynieii  and  uiairist  rates 
led  uio1)s  MLi'aiust  him.  as  if  he  were  a  monster  raNau'iui:"  the  land. 
''  When  I  arose  in  tlu^  moriiiuu',  I  was  in  daily  expcM-tatiou  of 
my  crosses."  At  Newport,  the  rioters  tore  away  his  coat  sleeves 
aud  carried  oil' his  p(!rukc,  Icaviua'  liiui  "  iu  the  rain,  I>areheaded, 
under  the  reproach  of  Christ.''  lie  went  on  amid  shouts  and 
stones,  and  lu;  l)rought  away  a  bleediuii;  hrow.  hut  undaunted 
si)irit.  At  Caerleon,  his  comrade,  Seward,  became  hlind  by 
blows  on  his  eyes,  but  still  stood  blindfolded  by  the  side  of 
Harris,  sayiiiii' calmly,  "  )\'e  liad  better  endiu'e  this  than  ludl  I  " 
On  Sunday  at  church  he  heard  a  leadiuir  clerirynian  call  him 
"a  minister  of  the  devil,  an  enemy  to  (iod,  to  the  Church,  to 
all  mankind,  "  and  sunnnon  the  people  to  join  auainst  such  a 
man.  So  they  did,  and  they  stoned  him  as  he  Avent  from  church 
until  he  doubted  if  he  sliould  i:et  home  alive. 

"For  such  times,"  said  AVesley,  "  (rod  made  such  men.''  At 
one  place  ''airun  was  presented  to  my  forehead ;  my  soul  was 
ha})py."  One  struck  him  on  the  mouth  till  the  Idood  came; 
his  clothes  were  spoiled  "with  mire,  mud  and  irunpowder."  He 
got  a  change  of  clothes,  Avashed  himself  and  went  on  preaching 
to  the  lingering  crowds.  They  begged  him  to  come  to  the 
village  a  mile  away.  He  went,  and  "the  word  Avas  glorified. " 
By  such  labors  and  sutt'erings,  "IIoAvell  Harris,  Esq."  (so  ho 
is  named  on  his  tomb  at  Trevecca).  and  the  like  of  him  reformed 
Wales.     For  a  hundred  years  AYales  has    been  a  religious  land. 


Ins 


TIk'    (_'<iI rill ixl Ir    (Joiitroi't  rsi/. 


189 


:ui(l  when  \v»'-('c  wliiil  "tlir   ( '.'iiiilirinii   in    Aiiici'icM  "  liii>.  in   llisit 
lime.  < lone  .'ind  i^  >t  ill  doiiiL:',  AnicricMn  ( 'hri>t  i;in-  niiix   Itc  i:riitct"nl 


lor 


in. 


-('( 


ni 


Hi 


IIT 


1; 


ihor 


After  lii>  licMJtli    liiihMJ.  he 


ll\  (Ml 


at 


ITVCCCM 


a\ 


.  \\'c>l 


('\ 


inc  dt'  the   ino^t  ('lt'L:ant    iilaccs   wliicli   I    JiaNc 
riicif   were   walks   in  a   wood,  a  mount    raised 
a    meadow,  connnandinu'  a   deliu'htt'ul    pi'ospeet ,  a    lai'u'c    and 


11  ill    Wales. 


lieailtlllll     lioiix 


that 


with    the    uai'(l('iis,    or( 


hard- 


w;i 


Iks 


Mid    |iiece>    of    w.-iter    that    surround    it,    it    is    u    kind    of   liiile 

|iaradi>e.""      Wesley  keenly  enjoyed  the    heautil'ii!    ill   nature    and 

human  life,  and  :i  call  at  Ilafris"  mansion  was  to  him  sweet  and 

iVesliiiii:'.      Here    Harris   had   a   liundrod  I'csidcnts  beneath   liis 

)of,  variously  employee!    on    his    estates 


111 


rt 


H 


e  preached  to  them 
'•very  mornin<i' at  their  lirst  risini:',  and  from  this  jiome  sanctuary 
la\-  prencliors  iind  exhorters  were  continually  li'oini:'  out  to  lahor 
ill  the  Word.  Harris  was  in  other  ways  a  staunch  Llewellyn,  a 
true  ])riiicc  of  Wales,  not  a  (Quaker,  ])ut  a  Hampden  or  Adolphus. 
When  an  invasion  by  France  was  threatened,  he  in(|uire(l  of 
his  youiiir  men,  if  any,  l)ein<i'  first  "earnest  with  the  Lord  in 
|iray<'r,"  would  \>:o  into  tlie  service  of  the  Kinir  for  the  defence 
(if  the  land.  Many  werc^  williuii'.  Five  "  went  in  the  strenuth 
(if  the  J..ord,*'  and  at  L()uisl)urii'  and  at  Quebec  and  Havana, 
under  A\'olfe,  they  t'ouuht  side  ])\  side  with  Puritans  from  Xew 
Kiii;land.  AVhitetield  had  aiven  them  a  motto,  "F'ear  nothinir, 
while  Christ  is  Captain." 

Seven  years  luul  the  Harris  household  prayed  for  its  absent 
tivc,  when  suddenly  the  survivor  appeai'ed.  He  told  how  liis 
ciinn-ades  had  fouirht  a  irood  tiii'ht.  Himscdf,  after  many  a  hair- 
lircadth  escape  by  Hood  and  field,  had  been  otl'ered  promotion, 
hut  he  came  to  Trevecea,  where  forty  years  later,  with  a 
hall  still  in  liis  Icl*",  he  Avas  telling  the  story  of  the  Inlinite 
Love. 

ILirris  himself  now  left  his  "little  paradise"  of  home  and 
entered  the   service.     He    was   captain,  stipulatinn'   only  that    he 


"■Hi  !i 


'r 


i 


■M  \ 


1    I 


li>     M 

111  :i| 

)•'  s^  i 


t  1 


frl 


m 


I :( 


jii^i 


II 


itil 


11)0 


'Till'   Slor^i  of  yhtlinilisiii. 


cvcrvwlicn'     ih'cmcIi     ;iiii()Iil;'     IIm'     1i'(»()|)>.      Twcnt  \ -iniii'    ot'   liis 

lioiix'lidld   Weill    with   liiiii  :   Iwrhc    for  llircc    yi'iir-    iit    Iii>  own 

I'Xpcii^f.      "I  ciiiiiiiiit    my    rmiiily  lo   the    i^ord   iiiid  ^o    tn   drrciid 

«»ur  .\:ili(»ii   Mild  il>  ])ri\ilcL:('>   ;iiid  to   show  that    I'or  thr   -;ik('  ol' 

(iiir  Sjivioiir   wf  ciiii  pMi't  willi   life    ilscll".  scckiiii:'  :i  city   which  i> 

ill)o\i'."       I-'or  hi>  three  y-'iirs  of  >er\  iee  he  |)re:i('h<Ml  ms    ;m    otlieel' 

in  liis    uiiii'oriii.      Ill>    own   eoiiiiniiiy  were  his    uiiiirtl.  niid  >o    his 

\vor(l  lind  ;ieee>s  to  the  roughest    |tl;iees    Miid    alwiiys    had    \ietol'V. 

W  Variiioiith.  he  was  told  thai  the  itinerants  liad  Iried  to  preach 

lint  had  heeii  driven  away,  narrowly  escapini:"  (h-alh.      lie  at  once 

liad  the    ci'ier    proclaim   that    a    Methodist    would    ])reacli    at    the 

^larkel.      A  iiiol),  withllie  nsnal  ammunition    of  stones   and   the 

like,  liiitliered,  while  the  (•ai)tain  was  drillini:'  nearby.      He  asked. 

''^^'ha^s  up  V"     '"I'hat  ]\!('lliodisl  did  avcU  not    to   come;    we   had 

killed  liim  sure  I"     He  said  that  it  was  a  pity  :   that  he  would  siiiL' 

and    jiray   with  them   and   izivc   them  "a   little   friendly  advice." 

liis  men  m  unifonn  hrouahl  hnn  a  ta1)le  and    joinod  in   siniiiiiir 

and  prayer.      lie  went  on  to  i)reach  while  the  luoh  was  awed,  foi- 

tlu'so  Methodists  "looked  like  men  of  war."      He  proaclie(l   many 

evenings  and  Avitli  results,  invited  ilinonints,  a  chajx-l    was   built. 

A\"('sley  (•ami',    and    Mctliodisin    llourislies    in    Varnioutli   to   this 

day.     .\fter  the   war  was  over — the  war  Avliich    in  .Vnierica  nave 

yonnii'  AVasliinnton  liis  expoi'ience  with  IJraddock  and  made  Fort 

Du  (^nesne  into    Pittsburgh — Harris    returned    to    his    charmini: 

lionu^  and  its   jieaceful   labors.      Soon    we   Hud  him  ontliviiiir  lii> 

lu'cthren.    I)rini2iiiu'  uj)  tlu^  rear  of  that   band  of   A\'(dsli  heroes. 

On    tlio    ceilinii,'  of  his    sick-room    was    n-ilded    in    Hebrew    the 

awful,    nlorious    name    of  flehovali.      It    brightened    before    hi.s 

dyi  1112' eye,  and  many  a  ])il,ii'rim  still  a'azes  on   it  with  tenderness 

and    awe.     The     day   of    his    interment     was    one    of    miiiii'led 

grief  and  gladness  as  devout  men  carried  to  his   burial  a   lover,  a 

hero  and  a  saint.      Harris  was  the  first  itinerant   in  'NA'ales.  havini:- 


fi 


Ilia    C'lili'iii  isl  if    ('mil 


I'Ufl  I'SI/, 


l!il 


pri'Hrlicd    tliirl y-iiliir    ycMi'x    lirtni'i'.    .Iiilv    I'l.    177."i.  lie    ciilfiTd 

hiiiiicl  IJowliinds  \viis  second  1o  ll;irri>  in  time.  Iml  iiol  in 
iiliilily.  I  If  w  M-;  I'ccloi' (if  Iil;in;ji'it  lio  nnd  cliaplnin  to  llir  I  Mdic 
111"  l.('in>tt'r.  I'llfily  iindi'N  niit ,  he  w  ould  ctunt'  iVuni  lii-^  |»nl|>it 
t(»  ^pcnd  till'  Siindiiy  al'tcrmion  in  iithjriics  with  hi-;   dw  n    >t;il\\;irl 


di 


II. 


IKinsMioncrs.  lie  wcnl — luit  \\\  lolly  scorn — lo  liriii'  (irdlitli 
.loncs,  !ind  ASMS  convcilcd.  lie  hccninc^  a.  Wliitdicdd  to  the 
\\'(dsli,  "turning  tlic  world  iii)si<l(>  down."'  I'mltr  his  itrcachiiijx 
the  \\'(dsht('Mi|)ci'imu'iit:  reached  ilsutinosl  of  ardor  and  in-^i  ligation. 
KxiTywlicro  "(Jou-oiiianl  I"  (flor;/!  was  shonlcd.  hi  |»rc;i(hint: 
and  ill  prayer,  in  ])('rils  and  in  dcalli  itself,  it  was  llic  one  tnncfnl 
(ViiU'iiJj  W'ofd  tiiat  sci'incd  to  define  and  to  e.\|)re>s  tiu'  re\  i\al. 
After  UowMands,  who  survived  Harris  twenty  years,  eaiiie  Charles, 
oullivini!;  Harris  Ity  still  more  years.  He  was  olfered  hii^h  ]»lace 
ill  tlio  ("liureli,  so  -were  his  oifts  after  heini;  disini<<(Ml  from  three 
clnirehes  for  his  e\  aiiiiclieal  '' irre^iiilarities.''  "I  would  rather 
have  si)ent  my  last,  tln'ee  and  twenty  years  as  1  have,  wanderini; 
\\\)  and  down  our  cold  and  harreii  country,  than  to  lri\('  Iteeii 
made  an  Arehbisliop,"'  Arehl)islioi)  of  >\'ales  he  truly  was,  for  h(> 
oriranized  there  Calvinistie  ^rethodism  so  that  it  there  al)1(h>s  unto 
this  day.  It  is  atreetiiiij;'  lo  wander  in  Wales  and  find  lln'se  men, 
whom  we  have  noted,  still  had  in  remeinhraiiee  anioni:  the 
societies  which  they  founded.  These  men  endured  a  u'reat  tiuht 
(if  atllictioas  ;  such  is  always  the  fare  of  those  "who  lead  tlu>  con- 
llict  of  liu'ht  with  darkness  ;  hut  they  rea'enerated  A\'ales,  their 
enemies  themselves  heiuij  judu'.'s.  Amonu"  other  I'oults  of 
llieir  i)reaching'  was  a  demand  for  r)il)les,  such  as  led  to  the 
formation  of  the  British  and  Foreiirn  liihle  Society,  from  whicii 
sprang  our  American  liihle  Society. 

This    foi'in    of  ^Methodism    had  thencet'orward   little  to   do    in 
England.     Its  sphere  was   in  the  A\'est.      De  ("ourcy,  who  had 


Nil 


t 


it 


,(      It 


il 


ill; 

.■..til 


f   I! 


- ...  lii 


.(  .i 


i.li 


I       .1 


1 


wm. 


l!>-> 


77if'    Stni'i/   lit'  Mi'thoil lam. 


hiTii  Sliirli'v's  ciinitc.  wn-  now  :it  >t.  Alkiiinmr-.  mid,  lli()iii:li  a 
ZDiloiis   (  liiirclimMii.    lit'    >('f\<'(|  !ilil_\     iiiult'i'    LjkIv  llimi  iiiL;(l<tir> 

sv>lclll.  .Inlm  Newton  li;i(|  lirrii  M  ct  ilMllKHl  sailor:  tllfli  cii]!- 
lllill  ol'  a  slaver.  "Tliere  \Hn'^  Jolili  Newtdll,  liail  it  not  lieeli 
I'oi'  llie  iiraee  ol"  ( iod."'  said  he  al'leiward.  as  Ik-  >a\\  a  man  led 
lortli  to  file  ^allows.  (  onseienei',  siiKJuidt'riiiii'  under  all  lii> 
eriines,  at  lenirtli  Ma/.ed 
out.  lie  led  llie  sea, 
hcijian  1o  si  lid  V,  and  lor 
(MLdit  vcai's  lie  labored 
in  and  near  Liverpool. 
Lord  I  )artnioutli,  t  lie 
Methodist  l'oiiiid(!r  of 
I  )a  rt  nioii  t  h  ( 'olloji'e, 
)»i'e\ailed  on  the  I^isliop 
of  Lincoln  to  ordain 
.Newton,  who  heeaiue 
eurate  at  ( )lney.  New- 
Ion  savs  :  "  I  have  liad 
the  honor  to  appear  as 
a  Methodist  ])roaelier." 
He  "  had  not  sullieient 
strength  of  body  or 
mind  to    beeomo    an  ukv.  joun  m;\\  tun. 

itinerant,  but  he  h)vod  tho  i)eoi)lo  called  Methodists.'  lie  after- 
Avai'ds  became  a  rector  in  London,  where  he  died  in  LS()7,  after 
foundini>',  in  part,  at  h>ast,  the  Jjow  Church  ))arty  and  those 
ureat  benevolent  enterj)i-ises  which  oi'iiani/ed  and  which  still 
employ  the  encray  and  resources  cf  the  Establishi'd  Chui'cli. 
Newton  encourai»«Hl  the  true  bard  of  Calvinistic  Methodism. 
William  Cowper,  who  lived  with  him  at  Olney.  ''Tlu;  Task,"  lines 
four  hundred  to  seven  lunuh'ed.  tells  th(>  poet's  views  of  Method- 


ill 

lai 

rl- 

th. 

Ili- 

llio 
sell 
liM.l 


'fill'     C'kI  ft  ilistir     C'lllfl'itl'irsi/. 


i!»a 


It  ill 
h. 

Iin. 

Iios 


jst>,  !is  do  allusions  111  '"riiilli"  Mini'  (  oiivcr-Mliiiii/"  ^^■ll(•ll  Wliilc- 
lirld  was  al)i!sc(l  III  \('r>i'  and  drama.  (  u\\|)»'r  ~aiii:-  clear  and  hold 
ill  ins  d('t't'ii('t\  His  ])(»('iry  \\a>  iiol  of  the  Iiii^lic^t  ordtT.  It 
laiiii'fd  far  below  llie  li\  iiiii>  of  (  liarle-  AVoley.  of  w  hieli  we  >i>eak 
elsewhere,  1ml   lie  was  lender  and  Iriie  in  his  religious  ullei'aiiees. 

1'liero  were  hviiins  hefoi-e  his  dav.  for  ANatts  liad  liiachs 
(hem,  hut  therd  were  lew  reliiiioiis  poein^.  ^(lllllu■  had  ni'.cn 
liis  lofly  and  Avoiirisoniti  "Xiu'ht  Thoughls,"  and  (iray  his  im- 
niorlal  "Klegy,"  hut  Cowper  lir>l  put  into  i^ciieral  vers*'  llio 
f^entinicnts  of  evanu'elieal  pit'ly.  In  ITT.s,  C'iilvinistie  ^Idh  .disni 
had  on  its  rolls  the  nio>(.  popular  cderuy  in  Jiondon,  where  also 
li\fd  the  most  eminent  hiymanof  llu^  ('oimeelion,  John  'riiorntoii, 
lie,  Willi  Loi'd  Dartmouln  and  llu;  Countess,  proeiire(l  or(h'r.s 
and  pliiees  for  many  Treveeea  students.  All  these,  with  their 
brethren  in  Dissenting  t'hurehes,  held  a  moral  rcdation  to  the 
(lood  ("ouutess.  In  Seotland,  Lady  (ihmorehy  had  (b)iu!  as  Lady 
Huntingdon  had  done,  and  there  wen^  ehajxds  and  brethren  in 
Ireland.  .Vll  these;  had  no  eenter  l)ut  the  aged  ("ouutess  in 
person,  and  no  system  l)eyoiid  her  personal  direction.  Sho 
had  no  genius  to  organize  or  legislate, 

The  crisis  of  her  church  career  came  m  1777.  She  titled  up 
for  j)reaeliing  the  Pantheon,  a  secular  building  in  a  wretidied 
part  of  London,  and  held  it  as  part  of  her  own  estate  as  Peercsii 
of  the  realm  80  she  held  ehaptds  by  the  score  and  the  castlo 
at  Treveeoa.  The  reelor,  in  whos(>  jjarish  stood  this  Pantheon, 
elauned  to  control  it,  its  services  and  its  incomes.  A^jpeal  was 
made  to  the  law.  Thornton  and  Dartmouth  uj)li(dd  the  Countess, 
hut  the  verdict  was  against  her,  and  her  chaplains  had  to  retire. 
?)ut  such  also  Avas  the  situation  of  ail  her  chapids  !  The  de- 
cision of  the  court  took  them  from  her.  though  built  with  her  own 
nionev.  and  i)ut  them  m  the  control  of  the  clerirvineii  of  their 
respective  i)arishe!S. 


1.  i»i> 

■t       ! 

;;:  m  ^ 

•e  'H  , 
•in)|! 


!i- 


!i     i: 


.]     t?f 

:       ■  '-M 

1      :#! 

ijll 


;ti 


M  ■  ^: 


i:i 


TJm  ,Sf<>i'>/  of  MeUiodisii) . 


TIkmc  \\is  Imt  out'  course  to  Inkc.  The  Act  ol'Tolcration  gave 
lliciii  iVccdom  ;is  ('li.'ipcls  of"  Dissent,  iiiid  siicli  lliey  AVOl'O 
(>I)liL:(Ml  to  hecoiiie.  It  was  to  the  Countess,  a  most  loval  <laui:ii- 
terot'tlu^  Church,  a  hitler  u'riet  '"to  turn  the  tinest  conii'reu'atiou 
in  the  world  into  a  Dissenthig  nicetinu-liou.sc  ;  to  he  cast  out 
of  the  Cluu'cli  only  lor  Avhat  I  have  l)een  doing  these  forty 
years — speaking  and  living  for  Jesus  Christ." 

Some  of  her  clergymen  protested  against  the  verdict  and  for- 
sook the  Church.  Far  the  greater  number  forsook  the  Countess 
and  her  cha[)els  and  gave  themselves  to  the  "  regular  work."' 

IToAV  dill'erent  now  tVom  her  position  Avas  Wesley's  !  He  had 
at  his  back  two  hundred  and  thirteen  itinerants  besides  several 
local  })reachers.  In  Kngland  alone  he  had  sixty-iour  circuits. 
llis  whole  membership  Avas  over  tifty-three  thousand.  Able 
men  liad  risen  hi  his  ranks  and  ho  himself  Avas  in  full  vigor, 
his  eye  not  dim  or  his  natural  force  abated.  The  organiza- 
tion of  his  people  was  com})lete.  Those  Avho  Avorried  the 
Countess,  the  cenler  of  so  much  })lety  and  benevolence,  shrank 
from  touchiuii'  him,  the  eenter  of  such  ix  si/sfmi.  Forty  Acars 
])ef<)re  this — in  his  First  Conference — he  had  said  :  "If  any  Bishop 
will  that  I  preach  not  the  Gospel,  his  Avill  is  no  Lnv  to  me.  I 
am  to  obey  God  rather  than  man."  When  the  Bishop  of  Bn-istol 
forbade  his  preaching  in  that  diocese,  ho  stood  at  Kingswood  and 
preached  Ix'forc  tln^  tear-Avashed  faces  of  thousands  of  colliers, 
ready  for  any  course  the  liishop  might  take,  but  no  Bishoj) 
laid  hands  on  him. 

In  ITS."),  the  breach  betAveen  the  Countess'  Connection  and 
the  Church  became  complete.  The  I>ish()})s  no  longer  ordained 
her  preachers,  and  they  Averc  ordaiiuMl  by  (dders  of  their  own 
mimber.  This  made  it  impossible  for  them  ever  to  conduct 
services  m  churches  of  the  Establishment,  and  henceforth  each 
took   its    oAvn    Ava\'.     For   eiuht    A'ears    lon^'er,  the  same  labors 


The   Ccfh'iniftfic   Vonlrovprsi/, 


195 


bv  her  proju'lu'is  brought  the  samo  siioooss.  Uut  sho  folt  the 
need  of  ln'ttcr  oririinization.  Tliis  she  tried  to  otlcH-t,  but  it  ^va»i 
1(M»  Lite.  Wesk'v's  system  had  boiruii  at  tiu>  l)eiiiniiiiiu'  of  his 
labors.  All  who  had  joined  him  had  entered  it,  and  were  at 
lionie  in  it,  loved  it.  The  Countess'  laborers  had  LH'own  old  inde- 
jicndently  and  \ver(^  no  loiiirer  })lastie.  She  failed  in  her  ellbrt. 
"  My  work  is  done."  said  she,  in  ITiU  ;  at  eiirhty-four  she  entered 
into  rest.  None  deny  that  she  had  exeelled  all  women  known  in 
Christian  records. 

Now  her  societies  went  ai)art,  as  AVhitetield  had  said  of 
his  own,  "like  a  rope  of  sand ;"  lier  executrix  removed  her 
colleire  from  Trevecca  to  Cheshunt,  near  London.  Her  societies 
Itecame  Conirreirationai.  droi)i)ing  the  name  of  Methodist, 
wliich  in  Knuland  has  since  belonired  to  AVesleyans  alone. 
In  A\'ales,  the  irreat  majority  of  Christians  are  CahMnistic 
Methodists.  Those  who  represented  the  Cor.iitess  in  the 
(  liurch  formed  the  Ivow  Church  party,  and  it  is  safe  to  say 
that  in  our  century  that  party  has  by  its  piety  and  zeal  gi\en 
honor  to  its  lineage. 

One  may  here  note  the  good  intiuence  which  ]\[ethodism  came 
to  have  upon  the  National  councils  of  England.  That  Thornton, 
who  aided  the  Countess  and  was  the  great  Methodist  layman  in 
London,  left  his  estate  to  his  son  Henry,  a  son  worthy  of  such  a 
father.  If  we  may  believe  the  great  lawyer,  Sir  James  Stephen 
tlie  home  of  Henry  Thornton  was,  as  the  scat  of  public  and  politi- 
cal benevolence,  a  true  copy  of  Lady  Huntingdon's  at  Chelsea,  as 
tlio  seat  of  evangelism.  It  was  at  Clapham,  near  London.  Here 
Pitt  had  built,  for  his  own  scant  rest,  a  villa  amid  lawns,  and  be- 
neath such  trees  as  an  Englishman  venerates.  Henry  Thornton, 
being  a  banker  in  town,  bought  this  for  his  retreat,  and  here  came 
ininiy  a  visitor  to  rest,  to  converse  and  worship  Avitli  the  Church 
that  was  in  his  house      Every  lover  and  worker  for  mankind  waa 

lo 


a  •■II 


I! 


11)6 


The  Star  If  of  Method  i^m. 


welcome,  and  few  could  do  more  tluiii  their  liost  was  doin<j,  for  ho 
lid)ore(^,  not  merely  sat,  in  Parliiinient  lor  thiity  ycsus,  and  ot'liis 
in(^oin(^  lie  loiiir  gave;  awaj  six-sevenths,  and  sometimes  to  ihc 
poor,  alone,  lifty  thousand  dollars  within  the  year. 

Of  these  men  were  AVillferforce,  the  Kmajieipator,  Sliarj),  the 
first  Chairman  of  the  liihle  Society,  and  Lord  Teiiiinnouth,  its 
first  President,  Venn,  who  framed  IheChureh  ^lissiontiry  Soci- 
ety, and  often  his  father,  on(!  of  A\'eslev's  preachers,  Henry 
Martyn,  the  brilliant  missionary,  and  Macaulay,  fatiier  of  the  histo- 
rian. Here  came  Rowland  Hill  and  his  brother.  Sir  Iviciiard,  and 
many  othei's  of  the  same  accord  and  n)in(l.  The  circle  of  these 
"<i^ood  men  of  Clapham "  is  the  first  known,  even  in  J'^ngland, 
where  politics  was  discussed  in  tlie  clear  liuht  of  religion  and  the 
lionor  of  Christ  was  held  to  lead  the  Avelfare  of  man.  To  meas- 
ures devised  with  jirayer  at  Clapham  many  a  prayerless  statesman 
acceded  ])<)th  before  the  people  and  in  Parliament,  and  so  the 
moral  feelinirs  of  Enirlishmen  were  elevated  and  I'eligion  Avas  hon- 
ored in  political  reforms.  ]Most  of  the  beneficent  legislation  of 
England,  which  we  cannot  here  trace  ])articularly,  originated  here 
with  "the  sons  of  men  who,  in  the  earlier  days  of  ^Methodism,  had 
shaken  off  the  entrancement  of  religious  lethar<ry  and  come  into 
the  s})lendor  of  evangelical  faith." 

This  "Clapham  Sect"  was  from  seed  of  AVhitefield's  sowing,  in 
the  days  of  the  elder  Thornton.  He  writes  :  "  I  am  to  l)e  at  Clap- 
ham tliis  evening.  INFay  it  be  a  liethel  I"  All  the  metisures  fos- 
tered in  the  Thornton  mansion,  those  relating  to  peace,  reform, 
economy,  toleration  and  emancipjition,  came  of  the  stir  whicli 
]\[ethodism  a'ave  to  the  moral  sense  oftlu;  Xation.  None  of  these 
things  were  in  England  b(>fore  the  jNfethodist  revival.  The  only 
tracea])le  cause  of  them  's  that  revival,  and  they  })rove  its  benefi- 
ceut  character.     Meu  do  not  gather  grapes  of  thorns. 


'       Hi 


i 


« 


ifl 


MiT.  Ill 
Iciai.- 
Is  tos- 
[forni, 
Kvhii'li 

ItllCSi' 

only 
leneti- 


3 


S 


^ 


CH^VPTKIi   XV. 


M^ 


S^'^^StM^ 


ir^^-;  '"//"n  Lf//pr  Work. 


'^VUk'^'«K' 


OW,  in  1770.  lie  w:is  nciir  Ihroo- 
score  iiiul  ten,  ns  his  iiir*'  in!ircln's 
Just  behind  his  cciitiiry.  Ho  was, 
as  we  arc  wont  to  cull  (Jladstone, 
''  the  grand  old  man."'  He  \vrot(\ 
preached  and  tra\(>lcd  moi'e  in 
the  ten  ycjirs  pn'ccdinii-  his  lour- 
score  than  in  any  other  ten  of  his 
lite.  He  had  l)een  the  most  persecuted  man  in  England  :  he  had 
come  to  be  the  most  known,  the  most  felt,  the  most  truly  hon- 
ored. The  years  of  victory  behind  him  wcr(>  all  the  years  that 
most  men  could  remcmbei' ;  they  obeyed  hiia  without  answering, 
and  followed  him,  fearless  of  failun*.  tSomeof  the  bodily  infirmi- 
ties of  yontli  w<'re  uone  ;  those  of  aiie  wc'-c  not  come.  ''How  is 
this,  that  I  iind  just  the  same  strcnijth  that  I  did  thirty  years 
tigo?"'  His  e3'c-sight  better  ;  his  nerves  tirm(>r  I  He  states  as  the 
cause,  ''the  good  ])leasui'e  of  (iod."  His  means  wer(^  :  "Rising  at 
four,  for  now  about  lifty  years;  i)reachinir  at  tiv(\  one  of  the  most 
healthy  exercises  in  the  woi-ld  ;  never  traveling  less  than  foi'ty-tive 
liuiidrcd  miles  in  a  year."  Until  about  seventy,  he  rode  on  horse- 
hack,  "{)aying  more  tolls  than  any  other  Englishman."  His  rid- 
ing, with  its  exj)()sures.  may  have  cured  some  evil  tcMidcncies,  l)nt 
the  stumbling  of  a  horse  oiu'(>  so  injured  him  that  the*  sui'geon  or- 
dered him  to  lie  on  his  back  tifteen  days.  'r/it/f  ho  would  not  do. 
.\ii  ojx'ration  took  from  a  hydrocele  tliat  had  formed  a  half-pint  of 


MM 


M 


m 


•  'r 


iHi 

f 

1 

! 

,1 

\ 

1 

'  iitii 

1 

! 

ii«it! 


Ij 


'I 


■ 


1^ 


Hi- 


♦  '   h 


19.S 


The  Sfori/  of  MctJiodlsm. 


water  and  a  small  pcurl !  Wli.-il  a  "  i-clic  "  llial  would  have  Itcoii  ! 
Tlic  next  d;iy  lie  was  at  work.  lie  now  •mVX't^  1o  liis  means  of 
health  some  upon  w  liicli  all  will  aLTce.  'I'lie  aliilily  1o  sleep  at 
once  when  neeilini.''  it  :  the  nevei"  losinir  a  niirht's  sleep  in  his  life; 
an  even,  cheerful  temper:  these  (ire  conducive  to  health. 

He  traveled  throuirh  Ireland,  throuiih  Wales,  visitiuir  Ihe 
''lovely  place,  the  Io\-ely  family  "  of  IlaiM'is.  now  lon^'  i:(>ne.  In 
Scotland,  kirks  were  o|)enedfor  him.  and  the  mairi^itratcs  of  Perth 
formally  presented  Inm  in  Latin  the  privilo<res  of  citi/.(msl:ip. 
Crowds  came  to  his  prcachinu-.  and  listened  coolly  and  candidly, 
and  felt  for  him  all  the  love  and  i-everence  they  could  for  "  ae  mon 
wliae  is  nae  ("alvinist."  Ilis  ,Ioui-nal  often  speaks  of  the  urand- 
sires ot'  tli()s(>  to  whom  he  was  now  preacliiniT.  At  a  place  near 
Oxford,  there  was  in  his  audicnci'  only  one  man  who  had  there 
heard  his  tirst  sermon,  nearly  lifty  years  before.  At  (iwennap,  he 
preached  to  the  largest  audience  of  his  life.  o\'er  thirty-two  thou- 
sand by  careful  rei'konin«:-.  lie  was  heai'd  to  the  vei'V  outskirts; 
"perhaps  the  first  time  that  a  man  of  seventy  had  been  heard  by 
thirty  thou^^and  persons  at  once." 

At  the  Dales,  then  a  charming''  reirion  of  ])leasant  homes,  he 
notes  that  ''three  in  four,  if  not  nine  in  ten"  had  spruni:'  up  since 
the  Methodists  came  in  hither.  He  ])reache(l  in  the  (/Id  ^Nloor- 
fields"tothe  larirest  contrrciration  ever  assembled  there."  The 
remotest  heard  liim  distinctly.  "  So  the  season  for  tield-})reach- 
incf  is  not  y(>t  over."  Fifty  yeai's  earlier  he  had  u'iven  at  AU- 
Ilallow's.  London,  his  tirst  sei-mon  without  notes,  lie  was  now, 
after  the  loni>-  I'xclusion.  invited  to  preach  then^  airain.  In  every 
place  the  old  barbarism  had  vanished. 

Auirust  S.  177I>,  he  savs  :  "This  was  llii'  last  niirht  which  I 
spent  at  the  Foundry.  What  hath  (iod  wrou<rht  therein  forty 
years  !""  The  dear  old  fortress,  liis  tirst-oi)ened  clnipel,  the  seat 
of  his  Urst  Conference,  where  his  mother  had  dietl.  the  metropoli- 


•'' 


Wt\slei/\'i    Ldtdv    Work. 


199 


I 


t 


k 


^an  home  of  Alothodism,  tho  slidtcr  of  its  youni;  institutions,  \v;is 
f'orsiiUcn.  To-day  tlu>  li'iivrlci' in  \\'in(lniill  street,  wIhto  it  stood, 
sees  not  a  trace  of  the  l)uil(lin<r  which  he  niiiiiit  venerate  as  a 
shrine.  On  Xovemhei-  1,  1777,  lie  had  dedicated,  whih>  "(iod  was 
eminently  present,"  the  City  Koad  ('hap*'!,  then  tiie  tinest  chapel 
in  London.  Here  we,  tind  tablets  to  himself,  his  i»rother,  and 
other  Methodists  of  note,  and  in  its  yard  rest  his  ashes,  with  those 
of  nany  of  his  lieroes. 


— =;^j^~     ..s^'  jt 


CirV    ROAD  rilAl-EL,  KMiLAXI). 

The  Imildinu  of  chajiels  was  now  a  serious  i)art  of  Wesley's 
oare.  He  showed  sucli  skill  in  tiu;  choice  of  sites  that,  thouirh 
Eui^Tish  towns  are  many  times  larixer  now,  his  chapt'ls  are  still 
admirahly  located. 

At  this  stauo  of  our  Story,  when  Arethodism  was  now  ftiirly 
launched,  the  (^harm  of  personal  incident  l)y  no  means  disappears. 
Weslev  had.  in  1742.  founded  as  a  Christmas  otferino-  his  Orphan 


h* 


i!    'm; 


i«'tt»j 


)M 

'!!!■ 

.1' 

»; 

t! 


•II, I 
Mil 


■i    ■''    ii 


i.  ..f.. 


lit'!  s 

.lutt! 


i;  c' 


■■ii 


200 


I'lic  >^(i/r>/  of  Mf ///{>(/ is/ii. 


!.!i')  ik  > 


n^ 


1    I         •..!;! 


^ 


ilf 


House  Ml  Xcwciist Ic.  Here  pi'csidfd  for  ncmi's  Graco  Murrav, 
llic  fail'  liamitcr  of  W'csIcn's  drcaiiiN.  ( )t"  lici'  \vc  have  already 
spoUeii.  She  was  the  very  anirel  of  Xortli  Km^xImikI  Melliodisiu. 
Jn  this  eeiiturv,  an  old  man  was  lelliiiiriiow  he  saw  hei'  staii  ujioii 
a  day's  itinerancy.  Ilei-  horse  was  hronirht  to  ihe  door.  With  a 
glance  at  his  trappinjjfs,  she  laid  hei'  hand  upon  his  shoulder.  lie 
knelt  ;  she  wasinthi'  saddle,  and,  withevei'v  l>eauty  of  movement, 

mi 


INTEKIOU  <»1'  CrrV  ROAU  (  IIAPEL,  IN   18(10. 

was  (|uickly  out  of  aiiiht :  but  the  vision  floated  before  in  the  old 
man's  nieniory. 

Here,  while  Mrs.  Murray,  "the  desire  of  his  eyes."  was  miiiis- 
terinir.  he  used  to  stop  to  rc^t.  "  It  is  oood  for  me  to  lie  here, 
but  I  am  to  be  a  wandei'er  upon  earth  until  my  spirit  returns  to 
God."  (irace  ^Nluri'ay  Avas  now  loiii:-  lionc".  yet  he  Avrites  of  New- 
castle :  ''Lovely  ])lace.  lovely  company  I  Ihit  I  nmst  arise  and 
go  hence."     Always  active  I      Dr.  .Johnson  now  said  of  him:  "Ila 


^^^ 


l;i 


Id 


() 


ims- 


licro, 
i\s  to 


,(>W- 


iinc 


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T/«y  Sfnr>/  of  Mff/ioJt'sm. 


is  clcvrr,  hut  h<'  liiis  iilways  an  ciiiraircinciil.      He  caimol,  lik^;  me. 
ciii'l  Ills  If'iis  uiidt'i'  a  tal)l('  and  lalk  all  day." 

Ncwcaslh^  IxM-ainc  a  cciitci'  for  the  socictiifs  ot'  tlu^  Xorlli,  an 
Eliin  lor  its  itinci-aiits.  So  it  still  rcniaiiis.  Within  a  cii-cie  of 
ten  miles  it  has  moi'c  than  a  huiKh'ed  chapels. 

AVesle}',  in  tlx^  ixreat  cities,  visited  his  people  from  house*  to 
liouse.  lie  was  amazed  at  what  lu^  found,  in  London,  of  misery, 
and  want,  and  vice.  After  the  active  charities  of  a  century,  oiu' 
may  add,  after  so  many  yt^ars  of  i>as-lit  streets,  those  are  found 
there  still :  Itut  in  Wesley's  day  the  (hirkness  was  lik(!  that  of  Hirypt, 

He  notes  in  his  visits  to  prisons  the  sad  case  of  Dr.  Dochl. 
This  was  an  eloquent  eU?riryman,  who  had  for^^cd,  to  a  check  of 
a  thousand  jjounds,  the  name  of  C'hest(u-ti<dd.  T\u)  ])ul)li(^  pity 
was  «riven  to  the  prisoner.  The  Earl  would  uladly  have  paid  the 
dieek,  and  more,  to  hush  the  matter;  and  Di".  »Iolinson  wrote  to 
the  Kiiiii"  a  touchinir  appeal  for  par(h)n.  All  was  vain  ;  tiie  law 
took  its  course,  and  fori>(M-y  was  a  cai)ital  crime.  Dodd  sent  for 
Weslev,  iuid  in  the  end  the  niei'cv  that  does  not  l)reak  a  bruised 
reed  i-ame  to  Dodd's  conti-it(!  lu^ai't,  and  his  end  was  peace.  Ho 
had  wrecked,  in  a  minute's  use  of  the  })en,  his  own  name  and  hope, 
and  had  sent  his  wife  insane  ;  yet,  out  of  the  depths,  he  truly  came 
to  the  Friend  of  sinners.     From  the  irallows,  "I  make  no  doubt,'" 


\V   W( 


■nt  to  Abndiam's  bosom.     Xor  were    Wesley's   labors  less 
ett'ective  with  culprits  of  low  degree. 

This  was  the  period  of  our  American  Revolution.  Wesley  was 
by  temj)er  a  Loysdist ;  but  he  vrrote  to  Lord  Xoith,  the  Premier, 
and  Lord  Dartmouth,  Colonial  Secretary,  to  dissuade  them  fi-om 
war.  "These  men  ask  for  nothiuii'  more  than  their  lejxal  riuhts, 
and  that  in  the  most  modest  and  molt'ensive  maimer.  They  will 
not  be  frijrhten(Ml.  They  will  ])robably  dispute  every  inch  of 
trfound,  and,  if  they  die,  die  sword  m  hand."  His  letter  might 
have  done  good  service  in  the  Congress  of  1770. 


H^es/ey'.s-  Later    Work. 


203 


In  those  (lays,  Wesley   wns    liiinselt"  in  such  tide  of  jirosperity 
tliiit   he   met   MJiiiosi    no   perseciilioiis.   and   hut   small  annoyance. 
lli>  helpers.  j)enetratinj2'  |)laces  si  ill   darU  in   Knirland,   eonhl  tell 
llie  old.  old  stoi'v.     .\l  Alnion(ll>urii".  the  elerirynian  had  (h'clared 
liinisell''  ininistei"  enough"  for  that  ])arish,  and  his  eh'fk,  who  was 
constahle,  set  hinis(df  to  prevent  and  punish  invasion.      Darney,  a 
in-eacher,   eanie   and  foi'nied  a  societv  <tf  thirtv-two  in  hearinu:  of 
the  ehureh  l)ell.      A  nioh  was  raised,   and  the  elerk  tried  to  draij; 
Damey  out  for  its  victim,   hut  his  hrethren  niscued  him.     Then 
came  a  ])oint  of  law.      In  a  we(d<,  Darney  was  there  airain  ))reach- 
iiiu"  in  a  house  licensed  t'or  the  i)urp()se,  and  tluM-e.  too,  were  the 
clerk  and  the  moh.      Iloldiniiup  his  eonstahle's  stall":     "  I  charije 
tliet^  111  the  name  of  Kinu"  (Jeoriic.  to  come  down."     "I  cliaru'e 
thee,  hi  the  name  of  the   Kini:'  of  Kinus,  that  thou  let  me  iro  on 
with  my  sei'mon."     "Pull  him   down  I"     The   moh  rushed   upon 
llie  preacher,  draii'U'ed  him  rudely,  for  he  was  old  and  heavy,  and 
kick"(l  jiini  half-dead.      Kscapin.u",  he  and  his  friends  went  for  ])ro- 
lectioii  to  a  cleruTinan  near,  who  was  also  a  mauistrate,  just   and 
triH'.     "The  law  is  for  the<'  and  thy  moh,"  said  he  to  the  clerk; 
"he.  a  licensed  preacher,  was  j)reachinii"  in  a  lic(Mised  house;  you 
iiiiiiht  as  w(dl  have  pulled  me  down   when  ])r(!achinii'  in  my  own 
rhurcli :   if  you  do  not  settle  this  hefore  the  (Quarter  Sessions,  you, 
!uid  all  concerned  in  this  hrutal  affair,  Avill  Ix^  ti'ans])orted."     Tiie 
clerk  and  his  men  slunk  hack  to  town.     English  law  did  not  so 
speak  from  clerical  lips  forty  years  hefore,  and  the  chani2:e  was  of 
Methodism's  own  ])roducin_u.     At   Seacroft,  Win.   Eiiii'land,  "the 
Ix'st    carpenter  in  town,"  welcomed  the  })reachcr  and  hecame  a 
Methodist.     A  "irentleman"  hired  a  ruffian  to  worry  any  and  all 
|)reachers.      He  rii><red  himself  as  a  ])rize-tighter  for  his  work,  hut 
was  himself  soon  hroken  and   joined  a  society.      His  family  per- 
suaded him  to  leave    it  and,  alas  !   he  l)ecame  a   sot.  hut   he   was 
always  readv  to  six^ak  and  even  tiirht  for  the  ^lethodists. 


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TIk;  Slorif  of  Mcthodlsiii. 


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Kntrland  liad  liis  windows  siimslicd  I'or  lodiriiii:  tli«'  prciiclicrs, 
)iut  liis  lowiisiiicii  riillicd  tor  liiiii  iiiid  liis  ciiiploycr  held  l»y  luin, 
"even  it"  lie  slioidd  pi'iiy  (in  the  lioiisctop."  And  ^lothodisiii 
lliiovc  ill  Sciicroi'l. 

The  list  of  heroes  leii<,^t liens.  ,Ioliii  ( )liver,  at  Stockport,  a  lovul 
Cliurcliniaii.  was  sure  tlie  Methodists  were  wronji-,  \{'\  in  their 
atinospliere  he  resolve(l  to  heeoine  more  devout  and  oltservaiit 
o*'tlie  nsaires  of  the  Chiireh.  His  own  father  set  hinisell'to  Iireak 
down  this  marked  seriousness,  hut  it  <rrew.  \\'hen  John  was 
invited  to  liiid  relief  in  tht^  Methodist  ineetiniis  his  father  threat- 
ened, if  he  went,  "to  knock  out  his  brains,  if  he  should  he  hiiiiij: 
for  it."  lie  went  ;  he  heard  strikiiii:"  ex|)eriences  which  he  took 
to  heart,  and  in  secret  pi'ayer  he  ohtaiiied  the  j)ardon  and  the  love 
of  which  others  had  sjxiken.  His  father  warned  the  ^[('thodists 
not  to  receive  his  son  into  their  houses  or  their  iiieetiiii.;s  :  he 
l)roke  chairs  and  cluhs  on  his  yoiiiiij:  head,  and  then  wee|)iiii:'  Iie- 
souiilit  the  hoy  not  to  break  his  heart  in  his  old  aiiC  He  called 
ill  three  clerirynu'ii  :  he  ollered  the  ^loy  all  the  privilei>('s  of  the 
Church  if  he  would  (|iiit  the  Methodists,  At  leiiulh,  darkness 
arose  in  the  hoy's  own  soul  :  his  troul)los  made  him  wild  and  he 
tried  to  commit  suicide.  His  father,  fond  and  ironerous  liy  nature, 
had  him  for  two  montlis  under  a  physic-ian.  bled  and  blistered  for 
his  soul's  health.  Then  the  son  escaped  from  home  to  Manchester. 
His  mother  ])rocured  his  return  and  full  liberty  was  <>iven.  He 
soon  ImUIuI  that  free  ii^race  and  Christian  sympathy  can  minister 
well  to  a  mmd  diseased.  "Mv  streiiirtli  came  a<>:ain,  mv  liulit, 
my  life,  my  (Jod  !"  His  temper  may  be  seen  from  many  a  con- 
flict. At  \A'rexham,  as  he  was  preachinu"  in  the  o})eu  air,  a  Justice 
sent  a  constable  to  arrest  him.  The  constable  would  let  Oliver 
finish  the  sermon,  but  the  '"Dogberry"  came  and  took  the  preacher 
by  the  collar.  "Here  is  no  riot ;  I  am  a  licensed  })reacher."  The 
justice  ordered  his   constable  to  take   Oliver  to  prison.     "I  Avill 


I 


llV.s/ry'.s    L<i(<i'    W'in-k 


luit    ffo   unless    vou    have    si    written    oi'dei 


.M)5 


Tlie    wiiiTiiiit     wart 


(ilitaiuetl  "to  eoMvey   tlie  hody    (tf  ,1.  ()..  a  vaLM'aiit   ])reaelier."  to 
il.      The  inultitude  wei'e  on  his  si(h',  rea(l\   to    ti;^ht    ami    rex-ue. 


J!' 


One  oll'ered  l>ail   in  livi^  Imiidi'ed   ))oiind.- :   another   would  di-l'eud 
liini   at   all    hazards,   if   he    would    ])reaeh    at    his    dooi-.      Others 


uou 


Id  <:()  to   iail   with   him.  hut    (  )liver  chose   the   loruis   ot"  hn 


The  next  day  the  proseeutinir  attorney  threw  up  the  case,  '{'he 
j'lnious  Justice  threatened  to  have  ( )li\'ei-  whippcil  ciut  of  town 
uiilesH  he  pi'oinised  never  to  appear  thei'e  aL'^aiu.  "I  am  an 
Kuirlishmau  :   I  will  niaU"  no  such  pr<»misc,"  came  from  that  daunt- 


less hreast. 


dth 


lo  a 


l)out 


\'our  husuies.- 


was  i1h'  sidlen  dischai'ire 


•h 


and  ilK^  preaciier  was  vu-torious. 

Such  battles  and  Avorse,  and  such  triumi)hs,  iVdl  to  the  lot  of 
Mather,  a  Scotchman.  His  struu'u'h'^  wei-e  not  w  ith  niohs,  except 
|)crhaj)s  at  J)()ston,  where  lie  showe(l  how  "iracc^  could  control  tlu^ 
hot  Scotch  ]>loo(l.  Ilis  conllicts  Averts  with  inauisti-ates  aiul 
clcrtrynien.  In  many  a  ])rovincial  villa:Li(',  not  even  ''Sijuiro 
Allworthy"  could  look  on  a  ])reacher  as  other  than  a  \aurant, 
(listurliini;  tho  jjuhlit^  (juiet.  It  was  loni;  heforo  these  conserva- 
tive minds  coidd  understand  \\\k\  true  slate  of  the  case,  but  tho 
liravo  ]\Ialher  opened  tho  eyes  of  many  to  the  law^'s  intent  and 
iiicaning,  un<l  to  tho  true  Avelfare  of  their  liamlets. 

IJichai'd  ]^odda  Avas  a  Connvall  miner.  Itinerants,  preachinjj^  iu 
his  father's  liouse,  liad  fixed  his  younir  thouiihts  on  reliLjion  in 
which,  like  Timothy,  lu;  was  aided  bv  tho  faith  that  dwidt  in  his 
niolher  and  his  grandmother.  lie  once  knelt  for  prayer  in  a  dark 
oliauil»er  of  a  mine.  Suddenly  above  hiui  tlie  earth  gav(j  away; 
a  stone  fell  before  him,  and  one  on  each  side  of  him  ;  these  rose 
higher  than  his  head,  and  on  them  fell  another,  roofing  him  com- 
[ilt'tely.  Breathing  through  tho  crevices,  Ik;  lived  and  hel})  came, 
lie  devoted  to  the  ministry  tho  life  thus  threatened  suid  rescued, 
and  he  ])assed  through  many  a  phuc   as  perilous.     After  forty. 


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ti\M>!  yciirs  of  niiiiislrv.  willi  its  full  sliair  ot"  imi'dsliip,  ho  nitored 

tll<'   llCilVCM   of  lIlC    ItrMVf. 

Such  lucu  sv('f(^  :iuil  jilways  uuisl  he  the  ^tcjiI  workcivs  in  Mctli- 
odisui.  Kvci;  in  our  (l:iys  ot'  ('(hiciiliou  Ihtvc  is  work  for  "  Smmi 
Joucs."  These  lielj)ers  knew  well  how  to  speak  1o  the  people  to 
whose  loniiue  iiud  tastes  they  were  Itoi'ii.  'I'hey  well  kn«'W  the 
virtues  and  the  \  iees,  th.e  passions  aii<l  the  louiiinus  of  the  low 
<jra(h'S  of  so('i(>ty,  and  they  were  sure  that  the  (lospid  was  the 
healin;:  <lraii<iht,  the  l»aliu  and  cordial  for  disordered  soids. 
Therefoi'i^  they  piM'sisted  and  would  not  he  rehull'ed  in  their  er- 
rand of  love  and  irlad  tidiuirs  to  their  perscM'titors,  One,  his  hoi-se 
l)eMi<.'  sick  and  hiuistdf  and  his  j)eople  poor,  walketl  twelve  hun- 
dred miles  in  the  snows  and  nuid  of  w  inter  and  spruiii,  hut  "  I 
would  liave  died  to  promote  Iheii-  welfai'c."  Another,  on  his  way 
afoot,  wiieu  snow  was  knee-deep,  meets  a  ])oorman  and  his  wife. 
"Loi'd,  what  shall  I  say  to  these.  Thy  creatures,  to  inchicc  them 
to  serve  Thee?"  He  speaks  to  them  of  Chi'isl  ,  lie  kneels  witii 
tliem,  and  wi'cstlcs  with  (iod  t'oi'  them,  'i'he  man  t'eels  unworthy 
to  shake  the  preacliei'"s  jiand  ;  the  wouian  kisses  it  with  tears. 
They  ])ai't.  "Oh,  how  williuiily  would  1  have  washed  the  feet  of 
those*  ])oor  ci'eatures  foi-  whom  Chi'ist  died  I""  The  spirit  of  the 
early  evan_ir(dists  of  Knuiand,  of  ( 'hadd  and  Ai(hui.  re-api)oars  in 
these  preachers,  who  eave  all  to  Christ's  work  and  ever  serveil 
Ilnu  as  in  Ilis  own  sii^ht. 

Dec.  '2(K  ITTJI,  "  I  huried  what  was  mortal  of  honest  Silas  Told. 
For  uiany  years  he  att(Muled  the  lualefactors  in  Xewu-.ite,  withoul 
fee  or  I'cwai'd,  and  I  suppose*  that  for  a  hundred  years  no  nian  ha- 
heou  so  successfid  in  this  melancholy  otHce."  So  writes  A\'esley. 
This  Told  had  led  a  strann'c  life.  At  s(>a  from  childhood,  he  hml 
l)eou  drowned  ami  restored  ;  had  lu^en  wn^cked  ;  had  l)een  taken 
1)V  pirates  ;  had  ])eeii  for  ^'ears  in  the  horrors  of  the  slave  trade. 
W'carv  of  :ill  this,  he  married,   and  entered  business  m  London, 


i  1 

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Ldfc. 


Work, 


207 


nnd  with  his  wile  lu'cainc  clcjir  jiiid  |ii-:iv('rlul  Mothodints.  lli» 
proved  an  altic  man.  (iiviiiji'  up  liis  liijsincss,  li«>  kept  at  llic 
Foiiiidry  a  fliarity  srliool,  pickni'j:  up  Imys  and  <riiis  iVoin  the 
.street.  trainin<r  in  seven  years  nearly  three  hundred  to  uset'uhiess. 

One  niornini;'  he  lieard  ^^'e.-ley  preacli  j'roni :  "I  was  ju  jjrison 
;iii(t  Nc  eanie  not  unto  nie."  lie  instantly  lelt  u  (hitv  towards 
Ne\v<rate  prison,  lie;  learned  that  ten  men  wei'(^  there,  soon  to  l)e 
hung  lie  found  tliem,  and,  jr<'ttin^^  them  together,  spoke  of  the 
lliiet  on  theei'oss,  aiul  how  the  King  of  lieaven  died  for  the  chief 
of  sinners  and  eertaiidy  for  them.  Kiglit  of  these  lie  attended  to 
the  gallows,  and  they  all  died  in  jx-nitenee  and  hope.  The  door 
thus  opened  wichdy  for  Told,  and  in  and  out  he  went  for  more 
tlian  thirty  years.  (Jenerous,  simple  and  sineere,  he  gain<'d  the 
li(3arts  of  those  appointed  to  die,  and  of  all  other  ])ris()ners,  and 
even  the  keepers  and  hangmen  wept  under  his  appeals.  He  loved 
the  jtoor  men  even  unto  death.  Among  tiiose  eonlined  for  iXcht 
he  formed  societies,  one  of  thirty-two  meml)ers,  and  strange  !  his 
only  opposers  were  the  regular  ehai)lains  ! 

Prisoners  fared  hard  then  in  England,  as  Fielding's  rc^aders 
know.  Hangings  were  prodigiously  many,  forty  sometimes  on  a 
single  Friday  at  London,  while  the  po}uilaee  made  of  it  a  "Ivoniaa 
holiday." 

There  was  no  "lakv's  delay"  for  the  poor;  trial  was  hasty  and 
justiee  rare.  'I'old  was  the  comforter  and  eontidant  of  all,  and  he, 
(inly,  knew  their  guilt  or  innocence,  for  they  kept  nothing  batk 
from  him.  One  young  Avoman,  pure,  tendc^r  and  devout,  "was 
under  sentence  for  murder.  8hc  showed  Told  her  innocence  with 
all  meekness  and  simi)licity.  Brought  out  to  die  amid  the  jeers 
of  the  crowd,  there  she  stood,  like  marhle,  ])al(!  with  grief — calm 
with  resignation  "My  dear,  look  to  Jesus  !"  said  Told,  as  tliey 
went  through  the  howling  mol).  "  Sir,  I  Mess  God  that  I  can  look 
to  Jesus,  to  my  comfort."'     In  prayer  and  conversation  at  the  gal- 


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210 


'J7/e  tilor;/  of  MctJiodism. 


lows,  in  hcsirinir  of  llic  slit'riil'.  lit'  ln'raino  sure  of  lior  innocence. 
It  was  too  late  and  she  died  a  criminal's  death,  hut  died  m  peace. 

A  man  turned  ]>y  a  creditor  into  the  street,  with  a  sick  wife  and 
a  little  dauirhter,  huiiurv  and  i)enniless,  demanded  of  a  woman 
two-])ence  and  of  another  four.  For  this  he  was  sentenced  to  he 
liuuL^.  He  confessed  to  Told  his  crime  and  his  penitence,  and 
died  in  hope.  His  ])oor  wife.  Told  found  in  extreme  misery  and 
despau".  He  at  last  took  her  to  his  own  home,  and  thereafter  irot 
her  a  ])lace  as  housekee})er,  and  for  her  child  a  home. 

The  good  man's  work,  with  that  of  Wesley  himself  and  others, 
made  easier  and  more  ellective  the  prison  reforms  of  tlu;  great 
Howard.  Hanging  for  theft  ceased  ahout  182<s.  A  girl  of 
eijrhteen  had  in  vanity  taken  from  her  hrother-in-law's  store,  where 
slie  sewed,  a  hlue  rihhon  worth  eighteen  pence.  He  saw  her 
WH^aring  it,  and,  asking  her  to  walk  Avith  liim,  went  to  Bom'  street 
to  the  police  station.  "Where  are  you  taking  me?"  she  cried. 
"  To  be  hung."  She  ])urst  into  tears,  owned  her  guilt,  and  ])egged 
for  mercy,  hut  in  vain.  He  testiiied  against  her,  she  confessed, 
and  hung  she  was  !  But  the  pul)lic  conscience  was  stirred,  and 
the  laws  w^ere  reformed.  For  this  the  autobiography  of  Told  had 
been  preparing  the  mind  of  England. 

These  outlines  of  men  and  their  doings  may  well  end  with  the 
death  of  Jolm  Nelson.  His  sickness  and  death,  after  the  thirty- 
three  years  of  ministerial  labor,  came  within  the  course  of  a  single 
day.  His  leaving  of  the  world,  as  betitted  liis  looks  and  bear- 
ing in  it,  Avas  nolde,  A  long  train  followed  his  bier  from  Leeds 
to  his  native  Birstal,  which  had  also  been  his  first  and  most  tri- 
umphant lield  of  contlict.  and  tlu;re  In;  Mas  laid  to  the  rest  of 
those  who  sink"Avith  all  their  country's  Avishes  blest." 


V 

1  , 
1 

j. 

i 
t 

i- 

1 

' 

1   I  'i         A 

CIIAPTKK  XVI. 


]V<-sh'i/(iH  M'lhfxlliiiii   Gyoivs. 


§■:,  Ul\  story  still  (le- 
j)(Mi(ls  I'or  its  in- 
terests oil  1  he  |)er- 
soiuil  eliii  rae  I  e  rs 
and  acts  of  men, 
more  t  lian  on  any 
development  s  of 
oi)inion,  or  of  in- 
stitutions. Joseph 
Benson,  converted 
"^*^^'""  at    sixteen  and  fidl 

of  noi)le  loniiiiiii's  for  a  career  of  labor  and  sacrifice,  went 
to  meet  Wesley  in  London,  to  enter  evanu'elical  service  under 
liiiii.  He  was  made  classical  master  ut  Kin<;swood  and  afterwards 
the  head  of  the  colleirt*  at  Trevecca. 

DuriiiiT  till!  Calvinistic  controversy,  the  Countess  dismissed 
him  t'rom  that  ])lac(\  lie  then  i)rosecuted  his  studies  at  V  )xford. 
Ills  instructor  refused  to  si^'n  the  testiuKiiiials  necessary  for  liis 
iwdiiiation.  Alter  others  were  secured,  the  Bishop  of  AVorcester 
ivfiix'd  to  (U'daiii  him.  The  old  hostility,  for  which  Oxford  had 
siitlered  th(>  loss  of  some  of  her  hest  sons  in  that  century,  now 
drove  P)enson  from  the  Church.  For  fifty  years  he  was  in  the 
hi<rhest  places  of  Afethodism.      For  nineteen  years  he  was  editor 

U 


1 

I 

I 

IIIHII 

i 

i 

lii.H 

1 

1 

il 


r 


>  ! 


iit.li 


•it 


■|!ll 


i:f| 


r  I 

W' 


it 


I 


4 

M 
..  -lit 


H 


212 


The    t^hiri/    t,j'  .McIIkxJ i.<}ii. 


ol"  its  iiiiiuii/iiic,  and  he  was  wWvv  V\vAv\'>  death  twice  jircsidont 
(tC  tlic  ( 'onrcrciicc.  He  j)r('])ar('(l  a  ( 'oiimiciitarv  wliit-ii,  Ix'coiu- 
iiii:"  tlic  one  uiiil'onnly  studied  l»v  the  ])i'eachers,  aided  in  an 
intellii:-ent  and  consistent  st\de  ot"  opinion  ot"  exposition  in  Script- 
ui'e.     The  Arelibishoi)  of  ("aiitei'l)ury  at  this  time  is  liis  u'randson. 

The  orator  of  the  Connection,  dui'ina"  tlie  last  ijnarter  of 
the  eiuhteenth  cenliirv.  Avas  Sainucd  IJradhurn.  He  was  of 
nol)h!  stature,  and  relined  in  dress  and  manners.  His  -wit 
and  humor  often  verged,  as  did  liowhind  Hill's,  to  eccentricity, 
and  rcdieved  the  sweep  of  his  sul)lime  and  i:rasi)inir  tliouirlits. 
"  I  have  never  heard  his  e(jual ;  I  can  furnish  you  Avitli  no  adc- 
(juate  idea  of  his  ])()wers  as  an  oratoi'.  vVnother  r)radl)urn  nuist 
l)e  created  and  you  nuist  hear  him  for  yourself  before  you 
can  have  a  satisfactory  answer  to  your  inijuiry.""  So  said 
Adam  Clarke,  himself  an  orator,  and  another  distinguished 
speaker  puts  it  vigorously:  "Xever  man  spake  like  this 
mail."  His  wit  Avas  oenerallv  well  used.  Some  voun<r  l)rethren 
sjioke  "with  undue  emphasis,  he  thought,  of  having  given 
up  their  all  for  the  ministry.  He  had  been  a  colibler.  "T 
made  a  doulile  sacrifice.  I  gave  up  twt)  of  tluHiest  r/ /'•/.%•  in  the 
kingdom  to  liecome  an  ambassador  of  (Jod  in  the  Chiu'ch  and  a 
''■entleman  in  society." 

At  a  town  on  his  circuit  the  clergyman  and  his  mob  were  set 
to  repel  all  preachers,  liradburn  had  the  notice  given  for  an  out- 
door sermon  on  Sunday  afternoon,  and,  himself  arriving,  attended 
in  the  forenoon  at  the  church.  His  line  ])ers()ii  and  manner  drew 
attention.  After  the  l)en(Hlicti()n,  he  so  iiolitely  thanked  the 
tderiivman  for  tlu^  sermon  as  to  win  his  favor,  and  was  asked  to  be 
liis  guest  at  dinner.  His  host  was  imjnvssed  that  this  was  a 
l)rotlier  clergyman  and  no  ordinary  man.  J>radburn  was  curi()U> 
to  hear  the  Methodist  sermon  and  the  clergyman  was  liapjn'  to  go 
\N  ith  him.     "I  mean  to  arrest  the  vagrant  and  stop  such  things." 


}VeKlt''/an    McIIkkI isiii    (ir 


oil's. 


213 


lie  uirrcod.  li()\V('\(M'.  willi  Iiradhiini  lo  <j:\\v  i\  Ww  lu-ariiiLi'.  Xo 
prcai-luT  was  tlici'c.  UriKllmrii  suii'ticstcd  that  it  was  a  |)ity  to 
(li-.ai)p()int  the  people  and  iiriicd  the  t'lcrii'vuiiin  to  mount  the  stone 
oeak  as  Paul  would  lia\'e  done.      lie  "had   no  s(>rnioii  in   his 


:iiiu 


KK 


ket, 


d  I 


ut,  retort iiii:".  ehallenucd  his  iiuest .      I'n-adhurn  at   once 


mounted  a  stone  and  sauii  ii  liynni  and  prayed  and  ])reaehed  :  "  Re- 
fniin  I'roin  these  men  and  let  them  alone,"  ete.  The  courteous 
clciLivmaii  was  deliu'hted  with  the  discourse,  i)r!iisod  BradhuiMi  for 
In-  strataL^em,  and  his  door  was  ever  after  o))eii  to  the  preachers. 
Anecdotes  oidy  are  left  us  of  Bradburu ;  his  sermons  have  beeu 
prnited,  not  his  elixjuence. 

rlames  IJoiici-s,  whose  wife,  Hester  Aim  Rogers,  was  one  of  the 
suiiits  of  ^lethodism,  was  called  to  the  itinerant  Avork  from  the 
srniund  where,  a  thousand  years  before,  the  Ab])css  of  St.  Hilda,  at 
Whitby  and  Holy  Island,  had  given  to  Christumity  its  first  English 
poet  and  whore  Bode  had  put  into  English  the  Gosp)cl  of  John. 
All  that  early  light  had  gone  out  and  Rogers  seemed  to  deal  with 
raw  heathen.  In  the  heat  of  an  assault,  a  pious  young  girl  took 
up  a  stone  to  defend  him.  A  ruffian  hit  her  in  the  face  with  a 
stdiie  and  laid  her  for  dead.  She  recovered,  but  bore  to  her  dvin"; 
(lay  this  mark  of  sutfering  for  her  Lord.  Others  suffered,  ])ut  a 
terribl(>  storm,  as  if  "God  had  come  to  our  relief."  scattered  the 
innli.  On  this  wild  Xorth  Sea  border  Rogers  toiled  two  years, 
and  then,  as  Aidan  had  done,  he  started  at  dead  of  wintcn-  u))()n  a 
wider  circuit.  Wesley  welcomed  him  to  the  Conference  of  177.'), 
and  for  thirty-fivo  years  his  praise  was  in  the  Gospel  in  all  the 
(.ircuits  that  he  served. 

it  is  but  of  little  interest  that  the  general  reader  (jould  find  in 
till' ( 'onl'erence  sessions  of  these  years.  In  1777,  occurred  the 
lliM'ty-fourth  at  Bristol.  One  hundred  and  fifty-four  men  then 
hidk  api)ointments.  The  meml)ers  were  0(S,:>7 4.  XO  account  was 
made  of  American  statistics.     "Weslev  now  bejian  to  ask  :  "Who 


: 

i ' 

-i 

a   .  i'i 


iitil* 

tml' 


1,1  ■ ; 


11 
I     'I- 


'i!l 


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'.'   i 


M, 


1    ill 


tj 


•M 


i.  •» 


im 


] ' 


I 


■| 


211 


77/r  ,Sh,i'i/  of  J/e(/iod!.s)ii. 


litivc  (lied  (his  ycai-y  'I'lic  iiiiswci-  i^mvc  ik)  ciiloii'V.  'Molni 
81()('()ImI>,  :\i  ('loiifs,  Mil  (»l(l  liilioivM',  woni-oui  in  lln^  service,"  was 
llic  style  of  r('|)(trl  iiiu"  cvi'ii  the  in(»>(  (MiiiiU'iit  (U'cesiscd,  mikI  not  ;i 
l)ii<l  style  citlifi'. 

AN'cslcy  was  licariui:-  that  his  pc'ophi  wwo  I'alliiii:"  oil"  in  piety, 
enemy  and  spii'itnal  lile.  To  e\'ery  assistant — th(!  word,  as  Ave 
saw,  now  nieaninij.'  :i  elass  between  liini  and  tlie  helpers — liaviiii:' 
ovei'siixlit.  he  pnt  these  (piest  ions  :  "  Have  you,  of  your  own  ohsei- 
vation,  reason  to  l)elie\-e  that  the  Methodists  ai'e  a  fallen  iieoiileV 
Ts  there  a  d<'<'ay  or  an  inei'ease  in  the  work  of  (iod  where  y(»u 
liave  l»eeny  Are  the  societies  in  general  more  dead  or  more  ali\t' 
to  ( lod  than  they  wei'e  some  years  aii'o?"  To  this  came  unani- 
mously the  comfort  inu;- assurance  :  "If  we  must 'know  them  l»y 
their  fruits,"  tliei'c  is  no  decay  in  the  work  of  (iod  amoni:'  the 
pet)})le  in  izcneral.  The  societies  nvc  not  (h-ad  to  (iod;  they  are 
as  much  alive  as  they  have  l)ecn  for  many  years,  and  we  look  on 
this  re))()rt  as  a  mere  dcAice  of  Satan  to  make  our  hands  hann' 
down."  One  ,Iohn  Helton  disaiii'eed  with  these  answers,  lie, 
with  thirt(H'n  years'  ex[)erience,  held  the  ^Methodists  to  l)e  a 
"fallen  ix'ople."  auu)nu'  whom  ho  i>rieved  to  stav.  "Let  him<:'o 
in  i)eace,"  stud  \\'esley.  Helton  went  to  tind  zeal  and  i)r(),<j:ress 
amonii"  the  (^uakei's. 

At  this  Conference,  Fletcher  was  present.  IIo  Avas  not  ahle  to 
preach;  he  had  lonii' been  trying' to  restoi'e  the  health  hi'oken  l»y 
labors,  and  a  spittinuof  l)lood  kept  him  in  continual  exhaustion. 
JHc  u'ave  to  his  I»ri>thren  his  couuscds,  his  love  and  his  ])ray(M's. 
To  them,  he  seemed  an  ana"*'!  st(^p))inu' from  the  maririn  of  heaven 
to  cheer  and  Itriahten  their  i)athway.  AN'hen  they  ditl'ered  and 
th'bated  and  there  was  a  dauiicr  of  heat  and  of  loss  of  chai'ity,  he 
would  sucUlenly  offer  ])rayer,  and  not  in  Aaiu,  for  their  ])atienci' 
and  gentleness  re\n'ed  while  he  ])raye(l.  "This  world  has  Ixvomc 
to  nie  a  world  of  love."     To  Perronet  he  writes:  "Your   irreat> 


]\'rs/('i/ini   ^Ictlindisin    G'roics. 


215 


;iof  and  my  l;i'<"i1  weakness  iia\e  l)i'(»ii<jfli(  iis  In  llie  veri.''*'  of 
cleriiily.  Lei  us  lake  tlie  Kinudoin  ainl  i'lijoy,  helureliaiid,  llie 
rc^t  wliicli  reiiiaiiis  lo  llie  people  ot'dod."  'I'o  lilid  lieallli,  lio 
now.  willi  his  wife  and  daiiuliler,  spent  lour  years  in  his  nali\-e 
>\\  it/erland. 

In  tliese  days  eanic  a  stii"  such  as  it  was  I'easonahle  to  antici- 
pate. In  Ireland,  llie  Methodists  had  loiiii'  heen  ill-used  hy  ijio 
Church,  and  J'Jev.  Mdward  Smyth  had,  lor  preachinti",  heen  driven 
tVoiii  it.  They  now  ])resse(l.  and  ardently,  upon  \\'esley  this 
(|iiestion:  "Js  it  not  our  duly  to  separate  tVoni  the  ('hureli, 
coiisiderinir  the  wickedness  both  of  the  cleriry  and  of  the  jx'ople?" 
"We  conceive  not,  (1)  because  hoth  the  pi'iests  and  th(^  jieople 
were  lull  as  wicked  in  the  Jewish  (diiu'ch,  yet  (iod  never  coni- 
inanded  the  holy  Israidites  to  separate  from  them;  {'2)  neither  did 
our  I^ord  command  His  disciples  to  separate  from  them;  {'A) 
lieiice  Jt  is  clear  f/i(if  could  not  be  the  meaninir  of  St.  Paul's  words, 
' Conic  out  from  among  them  and  be  ye  separate.'"'  1'his  answer 
<:ives  A^'eslev^s  uniform  feelin<r  on  a  (luostion  that  would  come  to 
a  lieariuiT,  and  after  his  death  had  a  liiial  hearinir  and  another 
answer. 

lie  anew  states  the  errand  of  his  preachers  and  of  his 
system.  "To  save  as  many  souls  as  we  can,  and  with  all  our 
j)<)wer  to  liuild  them  up  in  that  holiness  without  which  they  can- 
not see  th»'  Lord."  His  motto,  "Tin;  world  is  my  i)arish,"  had 
in  itself  the  «:erm  and  spirit  of  all  missionary  cuterpi"ise.  Meth- 
odism had  hy  its  own  force  i>-ono  to  the  AVest  Indies  and  to 
America,  without  any  special  scheme  ;  mostly  by  simply  follow- 
iiiii'  th<'  course  of  emigration.  Xow,  ITTS.  a  ""  uiission  '"  (the  Avord 
i'- just  come  to  use)  to  .\frica  is  discussed,  and  i\n)  discussion  was 
a  lilessinii',  thouuh  no  attempt  was  mach'.  It  f(dl  upon  the  ours  of 
one  who  was  to  be  the  founder  of  Methodist  missions  and  tho  fore- 
iii()>t  liiiure  in  theii' history.      It  Mas  Tlu)mas  ( 'oke.      He  was  the 


i  • 


i^i      -It 


It'll 


•H 


i 


I  n 


II*  "•* 


I  ! 


'  j  i 
I  i 

■        !     : 


,'    111,- 


J 


■  *  ! 
t . 


210 


T//t'  sitii'i/  of'  ^IffliixVisiii. 


only  (.'luld  ofa  wcallliy  lioiix'  iil  P>rc<()n,  \\'!il('>.  and  al  ( )\r(ir(nia(l 
cvcrN'  advanlaiic  <1ih'  lo  rortmic  and  station.  liccoiiiini:'  a  clcruy- 
iiian,  1m'  entered  tlie  (  hnicli  in  t'nllness  ol"  perxtnal  enltiire.  hut 
with  iiilid(d,  oi' al  least  unevanii'elieal.  impressions.  In  his  pai'i.-li 
lid)()fs  lie  urew  anxious  and.  as  it  seeniecl  to  his  people,  st  l"aii;L:'ely 
eai'Mcst.  They  o\-erefo\\  (led  his  ehnreh.  lie  l»nilt  at  his  own 
expense  a  irallerN  .  and  it  was  tilled,  i"oi'  Ik^  j)lease(l  evcryhody  hut 
liiiustdl".  .Vn  unletlei'ed 
peasant,  leader  of  a  rust  i(! 
class  in  Devonshire  where 
Coke  was  visit  ini:' a  I'aini- 
ly  wliei'e  the  leader  was 
a  Lihoi'er,  taui^ht  this 
e'entlenian  and  scholar 
''the  way  ot"  (iod  more 
jieri'ectly."  This  man 
talked  to  Coke  clearly  of 
the  Christian  doct  r  i  nes 
by  which  men  live,  and 
his  discourse  of  the  riches 
of  Christ  was  accompa- 
nied l)y  prayer,  u  n<  ii 
Coke  came  into  llie  har- 
mony of  (iospel  li'ulii  and 
into  the  soul's  own  peace 
with  (iod.  which  soon  Mazed  into  a  Joy  full  of  glory.  This  was 
not  hichlen  in  his  own  heart.  Jle  grew  "irregular,"'  holding 
.services  all  around,  teaching  the  ])eoi)le  to  sing  hymns,  and  de- 
claring a  free,  unlimited  salvation,  J  lis  iiishop  admonished  him  ; 
lus  rector  dismissed  him  :  his  own  ])arish  raised  a  moh,  and  he 
was  rung  out  of  the  church  on  which  he  had  lavished  his  money. 
The  next  Sunday,  he  i)reached  near  iht;  church  door;  allemptiiig 


Ki;v.   iiioMAs  coKio,  n.  c.  i,. 


Ih 


]Vi  sjfi/flil    ^f' f //<>(/ is/ii     (f'riitr. 


-'1 


Oil  \ho  I'ollowiiiiT  SitiulMy  Ii»  (1«»  so,  lie  ii;irrosvly  ('>c:t])»'(l  >loiiiiiir. 
Ilcllicn  left  his  ])!iris|i  to  ciitcr  Wesley's  work,  while  hells  were 
ninir,  elder  Mowed  iVeely,  and  Pelhertoii,  his  i)Mri>h.  held  Jiiltilee 
()\-er  !l  great  deliverance!  The  man  Ihiis  ushered  eaiue  lo  he 
.-eeoiid  to  A\'esley  only  in  iMiiilaiid,  and  in  Amei'iea  the  tir>t 
Protestant  Uishop.  \\'esley  looked  npon  ('oke,  so  endowed  in 
mind,  lieart  and  t'ortuno,  with  e\-erv  ii'it'l  an<l  i:raee,  as  his  own 
>ueeess()r  in  administration,  ("oke  was,  like  his  eotemporary, 
AN'arren  IListiiiirs,  small  of  stature,  but  his  soul  was  as  vast  as 
that  of  the  founder  of  the  Emi)ire  of  India,  and  his  energies  were 
e(|iial  to  the  execution  of  his  wide  designs.  AN'esley,  in  177(1,  had 
taken  his  measure,  and  "formed  with  him  a  union  which,  T  trust, 
shall  never  end."  Coke,  forty-lour  years  younger  than  himselt", 
lie  clios(!  as  th(!  coming  Premier  of  Methodism.  Coke  pro\-e<l  to 
he  its  Foreign  Minister,  while,  in  tlu;  i)rovidenc(>  of  (Jod,  the 
otiice  of  premier  fell  to  a  coumiittee.  Tin;  foreign  lield  of 
Methodism  Avas  now  ])ecoming  immense  in  ])rospect,  and  tlie 
"tight  little  island"' of  England  was  to  he  only  "the  lillle  niotlier- 
laiul'tothe  new  evangelism,  ('oke  was  the  man  for  the  hour, 
mid  during  his  life-time  no  niissionary  society  was  needed,  as,  in 
^\'esley's,  no  "Legal  Hundred"  administration  was  needed.  As 
the  French  King  had  just  said,  "The  State  is  myself,"  so  could 
^^'e>ley  or  C()k(>.  each  for  his  life-time,  feel  himself  a  center,  an 
ciiil'odiment. 

At  his  own  expense.  Coke  crossed  the  .Vtlantic  eighteen  times, 
lie  s])eiit  most  of  his  own  estate,  rei)lenished  though  it  was  by 
lii>  marriage,  on  his  missions,  and  he  was  in  their  liehalf  an 
irresistible  Ix'ggar.  He  was  in  a  sea-port.  A  rough  caj)tain 
called  to  the  commander  of  the  next  ship,  "Did  a  man  run  to 
you  for  money  this  morning  for  what  he  called  a  mission?" 
"  Ves."  "Ah.  he  is  a  heavenly-minded  little  devil;  he  irot  my 
lust  })euny  ! " 


.1 


4 


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^  ^1 

i:  1 

,  ■     1 

1 

^  til 

i    I 

■n 

1 

!    t 


l\ 


u 


21M 


77/r    S/(,ri/    nf  yiclliiiilixiit , 


K\  iic.'ir  scvciily  v('!ir>,  iNl.'i.  Ilic  yc'ir  of  .Iiidsdii's  ()|)('niiiLr  (lio 
]Jil|)l  ist.Missidii  ill  Ikiiiin'ooii,  ( '()l<('  iiri^cd  bclorc  tlir  ( 'oiil'ci'ciict' 
iiii  I^:i>t  Iiidi.M  .Mi>-«i()ii.  'I'lic  cosl  of  oiillil,  lliiity  IIkmimiikI 
(lolliil's,  lie  look  upon  liiiiiscir,  ;iii(l  lie  ]u'!i(lc(l  llir  little  liniid  ot' 
liil)oi'<'rs.  He  died  id  scM.  "Tlu'  wliolc  carlli,"  said  Pcriilcs. 
''is  Ilii!  I'cid  loiiil)  of  llic  iii'ciif,"  and  it  wus  Hiliiii:'  llial  tlic  ocean 
])('.  Ilie  Itiiria!  place  of  one  \vlio<;e  soul  touched  all  lands,  and  was, 
like  llie  ocean.  "  lioundless,  lallioinlcss,  sublime." 

A(  llie  ( 'onrcreiice  ol'  177!l  api)ear  lliese,  rules:  l."J^et  every 
circuil  l)ear  its  own  l)ui'deii.  and  not  lean  upon  llie  ( 'ont'ci-ence." 
2.  '"I'ell  every  one,  expressly.  '  \\'e  do  not  make  a  suliscripl  ion  lor 
pay inir  debts.*"  I'lic  ol)iect  ol'lliese  I'ules  was  one  most  (U'siral)le 
niul  diflicull  in  connect ional  systems — the  jjromotion  of  local 
prudence  and  self-relraiice  anu)nir  the  societies. 

Almost  the  last  of  "Irish  _L''i"ievance^,"  of  which  })reachers  wei'c 
the  Aictims,  fell  now  to  the  lot  of  Henry  Moore.  lit;  had  in 
childhood  heard  A^'esley  in  Didilin,  and,  after  hearini:'  jireat-hers 
in  London,  he  loined  the  Dublin  society.  lie  iit  once,  like  the 
hrave  Told,  heiran  work  in  the  })risc)n.s.  Then  he  Ix's^an  to 
preach  "in  a  deserted  weavei-'s  sho}),"and  his  strenuth  urew  hy 
study  and  hy  spii'itual  experiences.  Wesley's  cyo  fell  on  hini 
and  hrouuht  him  to  tlu^  "nol)le  army"  of  itinerants.  He  became 
"Wesley's  eomi)ani()n  in  travel,  and  even  his  much-used,  much- 
trusted  eounseloi'.  After  vainly  trvln<r  to  irot  a  liishop  to  ordain 
Moore,  whose  future  importance  ho  saw,  Wesley  himself,  with  two 
prcsbyt(M-s  of  the  Church,  ordained  the  3'oung  preacher.  It  is 
notable  that  Moore,  Avho  is  the  first  whom  we  find  ordained  by 
Wesley,  was,  at  the  Centennial  of  ISHi),  the  sole  survivor  of  the 
men  on  whose  heads  his  hand  Avith  the  hands  of  the  presbytery 
had  l)een  laid. 

Moore   Avas  siliijfinL''   from  a  chair  in  a   Dublin   street,    Avheii  a 
great  multitude  of  l*apists  came  running  to  his  presence.     They 


M't'sfc^dii   Mafluxl'tsiii    (inn 


i:s. 


210 


flowed  nt  tlio  tiMinr  of  Jesus  In  llic  Iniiin.  mikI  knelt   <lm'inL:'  llie 


ii'iivc 


r.     At  its  end  ;i  woman  cried:  "Where  is  the  Hail    Mai'\' 


\'nij)ers  gi'(!W  wai'ni.  and.  a>  he  lieuan  ins  sermon,  a  ijcmiine 


Iri>h 


(i\v  heiran.      Mrs.  Moore  ami  a  vouni:'  ladv  stood  Ity  the  preaeher'- 
lii'.  and  the  moh.  >vith  the  tine  and  ehanniuii'   Irish  i:allantrv 
paid  them  more  I'everenee  than  they  would  ha\('  jjaid  to  a  unai 


I'M 


d 


i|'  >oldiei's.     After  a  lew   word:' 


aniK 


1    11 


vinLT    v'ji:[s 


and    clod- 


.M(tore  went  saiely  home.  A  drunken  sailoi'  mounted  the  chair 
to  sinii'  and  })i'each  for  the  anniseuienl  of  the  cheerini:"  crowd. 
I'a-sinii'  from  his  sermon  to  his  >hi[).  the  poor  l)lasi)hemer  slipped 
from  a  plaidc  and  was  drowned.  Moore  riH'oiKiUi'red  and  held 
the  post,  and  a  chapel  now  mai'ks  his  l)attle  ti(dd. 

In  IT.SO,  Weslev,  at  se\-ent\ -seven  years,  in  white  hair  l)ut  in 
fullness  ot  strength,  ap})ointed  one  hundred  and  soventy-oue  nuMi 
to  sixtv-lbur  circuits  of  fortv-three  thousand  oiixht  hundred  and 
thirty  members. 

He  was  amazed  at  the  work,  its  steady  irrowth,  its  success  in  the 
rudest  i)laces.  "'Tliat  a  revival  of  i-eliiiion  s(ddom  continues 
ahove  thirty  years,'  has  been  many  times  vei'ilied.  It  will  not 
•ilways  hold.  The  present  revival  in  iMighmd  has  continued 
lifty  years.  Blessed  bo  God  !  It  is  at  least  as  likely  to  continue 
as  it  was  twenty  years  a<ro.  Far  more  bkely  1  It  si)reads  wider  : 
it  >inks  deeper.  AVc  have  reason  to  lio})e  that  this  revival  will 
(.ontinue  to  increase  until  all  Israel  shall  be  saved,  and  the  fullness 
of  the  Gentiles  shall  come."  After  one  hundred  and  six  years, 
"this  revival"  still  "spreads  wider,  sinks  deeper." 


I' 


■4\ 


!i 


•»..».'  I 


U»i 


ft 

:| 

1:1 


•to 


'IM 


If 


'   Ti  '1' 

.''I 

iiil 


1  i  -|  I 


lit 


H 


I 

11 


ciiai^m:!?  XVII. 

IvM'i  (iI'mII  this  sli'Miiiic  ('\(MilJ'iil  histoi'v  !  It 
\v:is  w  (iiidcrl'iil.  TIm'  ">«'«'oii(l  old  mi:*'"  lir  nev- 
er SMW,  Miileriiii:'  his  seveiit y-eiiihlh  yeiir,  he 
sMVs  :  "lU'lhe  hh'ssiiiii' dl'  ( i()(l.  I  :iiii  iu>t  llie 
Siiiiie  ;is  when  I  entered  the  Iwent y-eii:lith."" 
.Vl  liis  eightieth,  his  streniith  is  iioj  liihor  iind 
r  «^»>^"'"i'*'\v,  nor  liiis  lie  more  juiin  or  inliiinity  Ihaii 
;it  list'  :ind  twenty,  heini:' :i  stiiinpT  to  heachulie, 
tooth;iehi'  iind  sneh  "yonlhl'id "'  disoriU'i's.  '"i'o- 
diiy.  1  iMitei'ed  on  my  eii:hty-seeond  yciir,  siiid 
found  niys«dt' just  :is  >tr(inii'  lo  l.-dtor  in  body  or 
O)  mind  as  I  was  forty  years  au(>.  1  inipute  thi- 
not  to  second  causes,  l»ut  to  tiie  soN'ereiii'n  Lord 
of  all,  \vlio  Itids  lh(>  sun  of  life  to  stand  still  a>  il 
/'v^^^^  p](>;ises  llim."  Aftei'  a  year,  he  A\riti's:  "It  i- 
liow"  eleven  years  since  1  ha\«'  I'elt  any  such  thiiii:' 
as  weariness.  J  speak  till  iny  xoice  fails,  and  T  can 
^■peaU  no  lonii'er  ;  I  walk  till  my  strenutli  fails,  ami  I 
can  walk  no  farther:  yet  even  then  I  fe(d  no  sensation  of  -weaii- 
ness  :  I  am  perfectly  easy  iVom  head  to  foot.  It  is  the  Avill  et' 
(iod."  Meitlu'i"  Ins  writinirs  nor  his  speakinir  showed  a  trace 
of  mental  decay.  Ili>  dournal  erows  sunny  and  i-lieerful.  lie 
has  more  than  ever  a  leisurely  repu'd  for  the  Ix'autiful  in  lite,  in 
art.  in  nature,  lie  discusses  the  newly-come  ])oems  of  ()ssiaii: 
he  criticises  and  compares  the  Italian  poets;  he  is  at   honu'  with 


taiil'    ' 


m% 


y!     It 
ic  ncv- 

CMl",  llf 
list  the 
iuhth." 
)(»i'  iinil 
iy  iliiin 

.     "T..- 

ir,   iintl 
)(i(ly  (ir 
itc  Ihi- 
n   Loiil 
ill  !i>  il 
"11    i< 
■li  thini;' 
1  T   call 
\,  aii<l   1 
■\V('!iri- 
lAvill  nf 
la   1i':ut' 
HI.      llr 
life,  in 
)ssi:in  : 
\uv  with 


IIV.s/ry'N    ()/,/    J,/'     ''//'/    /)><i//i 


:.M 


Sliiil\<'sp('ijr<'.  He  LMvcs  niiiiiitf  (Iclinnitioiis  of  ir«.iilciitf>  iukI 
l;iii(ls('ii|)('s.  iiii<l  IflU  lidW  ('oliilo  have  rli!iiiL:'i'<i  -iiHf  (he  tliiy>  of 
ilic  i:r;m<lsii'c>  of  ihcir  prcx-nt  owners. 

Ills  eye  looks  hark  and  \  irw  s  tlilliiis  in  a  teiidrr,  |ioctic  lii^iil. 
!i>  if  (lislaiicc  litily  k-nl  a  soft  fnclianlnirni  to  flic  \  icw .  At 
l!|i\\ orlli,  st ill  deal'  to  him  "hcyond  iiiosl  places  in  the  woi'ld." 
lie  thinks,  as  the  third  and  fourth  izcneral  ions  crowd  t<»  hi- 
|ii('achin<:,  "  Sec  how  the  earth  drops  its  inhahitaiits  as  the  tret' 
drops  its  IcaM'sI"  At  Kini^swood,  when  tln^  sun  Avas  hot  as 
"c\fii  in  ( ieoi'iria,"  his  rays  could  not  pierce  the  canopy  under 
which  li«'  was  pi-eachini;',  a  douhle  row  of  trees,  "which  I  planted 
I'orty  years  aiio."  "llow  little  did  any  one  then  think  that  they 
would  serve  such  an  intention  I"' 

The  loneliness  of  old  aiz'e  seeined  never  to  touch  him.  As  he 
preached    in    ])laces    where   he    had   done   the   same   t'orly    oi"   lift\' 


xcars   liefore,  he  showed  no  sorrow   at    tindiiiiJ'  "a  fc 


\v 


tl 


il'ce 


"not  oiu',""  of  his  early  hearers.  'I'heir  happy  spirits  seemed  to 
minister  to  him,  as  an  unseen  "majority "  in  the  air.  He  foriiot, 
jiis  old  opposers.  for  they  were  in  the  dust:  he  tenderly  names 
tlio-.e  who  liear<l  and  helped  him. 

At  St.  (iiles,  London,  where  he  had  preached  het'ore  u'oiiiLi' to 
Aniei'ica.  he  speaks  after  over  titty  years.  "Ai"e  they  not  ))assed 
;i-  a  walch  in  tht^  nieht?"  said  he,  as  the  ])au()i'aina  ot"  hall'  a 
ccnlury  sptid  hel'or*;  his  mind,  and  "a  solemn  awe  sat  on  the  wjude 
,.,iiini-(.n-.|t  ion." 

lie  \isits  here  and  there  a  survixor  of  the  old  heroes,  and  fhe 
interview  is  Lriii'ht  with  hii:h  and  joyous  spirits;  ^faxwcdl,  his 
tii-t  lay  ])reacher,  I'erronet,  now  over  ninety,  Delaniotte,  who 
wMswith  him  in  (Jeoriiia:  and  two  iioiirs  he  spends  with  1  )r. 
.loliiison,  "that  irreat  man,"  now  sinkinu'  into  his  era\('.  \o 
cliniiiics  of  season  or  ])la('e.  no  loss  of  iriends  or  lapse  of  yeai-s, 
ccjuld  atfect    the    healthful    ulow    of   his    full    and    iovous    heai't. 


il    J 


I  III  If 


i  I. 


iiiiil 


i     : 


.Is: 


.  i  \l 


'Mi 


wm 


^ 


22^ 


77/6  iSfori/  of  MrfJioillsm. 


I     :l 


y 


i 


Xolliin^'-  could  prove  this  so  well  as  liis  hold  on  the  mH'ccI  ions  of 
little*  cliildre-n.  lie  loved  tjieni.  Once  !i  eiiild  ol)-lructed  the 
])ui]iit  st;iirs.  lie  tenderly  took  it:  iiji,  kissed,  nnd.  ])!is<ini!-.  r(>- 
j'laeed  it.  At  another  ])lace,  as  he  eaino  down  iVoni  the  (le>i\.  he 
found  hiinx'lf  in  a  ^^roup,  Avho  Ix'izaii  kneelini;  altout  liini.  lie 
Unelt  <1<)\\  n  and  ])rayed  with  tlieni  and  "the  iii'e  I'an  iVoni  lieai't  Id 
heart."  ''Isnot  this  a  new  Ihinu'intho  ('arth?  ( iod  heii'ins  111- 
Avoik  Avitii  children.  Thus  has  it  ]>eeii  in  Cornwall,  Manchester 
and  I"]pwortli." 

This  wrier  has  coiiAci'sed  with  an  aired  n'raduate  of  Oxford. 
Avho  counteil  a  siizht  and  hearini;"  of  '*  Fathei- A\'esle\- "  Ihe  chief 
event  of  an  evcntfid  life.  Jle  was  then  of  rosy  liealth  under  his 
white  hair,  seiene  and  A'et  s))riii'hlly  in  inannors,  keen  of  look, 
with  soniethini:-  more  than  ^-ood  conscionco  Iti'ighteninir  liis 
features.  lie  was  not  tall,  weitihinu'  "not  a  ])ound  more  oi-  less" 
than  his  weight  foi-  years,  "a  hundred  ajid  twenty-two  })ounds." 
AltoiTothor  his  anc  was  "as  a  lusty  winter,  frosty  hut  kindly."' 

Of  his  eii!-hty-fourth  oii'thday  he  Avrites  uothinu'  of  himself,  for 
on  that  day,  "Howard,  the  Philanthropist,"  "oiu*  of  the  iireatest 
men  in  Kurope.""  was  Avith  him  in  Dublin.  AVe  saw  that  A\'esley"s 
man.  Told,  had  been  Howard's  jjioneer.  Howard  says  of  this 
birthday  visit  :  "I  was  encouraiicd  :  1  saw  in  him  how  iiuich  a 
siniile  man  miiiht  achieve  by  zeal  and  p»'rseverance,  and  I 
thought,  Avhy  may  not  I  do  as  much  in  my  Avay  as  Mr.  "Wesley 
lias  done  in  his?"  M'hen  Howard  left  Knu'land  on  that  "crusade 
of  benevolence"*  from  which  he  was  not  to  retui'U,  he  called  to 
see  A\'(>sley  in  London.  A\'esley  was  al)sent,l)ut  Howai'd  told 
Moore  that  at  his  own  country-seat  he  had  loni>"  auo  heai'l 
AVesley  ])reach.  " A\'hatsoever  thy  hand  tindeth  to  do,  do  it  with 
thy  miu'lit  .*"  "I  have  but  one  thiiiLi'  to  do,  and  I  do  it  with  my 
nuiiht.'"  "All  places  are  alike  to  me.  for  I  tind  misery  in  ail. 
Present   m\'  I'esijccts  and  love  to  Air.   A\'eslev.     Tell  liim  I  hac 

«  1  «. 


If.  ior 

ley's 

ihis 

lucli   :i 

ihI    1 

cslcy 

,US!\<1<' 
,1    1o 

tola 

llu'ar:! 
willi 

I  my 

II  Imr 


' 

1 

m 

1'  ' 

1 

li 


•fl     ;■ 


'111! 


■  - 

1  . 

f 

I 

■    r 

11 

■ 

If 


.  1 1 
ll  )f  ■ 

Itt  ! 

II*   ■  ' 

•  Mill 


M 


M 


'It 
ti 


1' 


■i 


'  «!' 


224 


hoped  to  soo  liiin  once  iiioi'c  ;   perhaps  ww  may  iiicot  apiiu  in  this 
world;  l)ul,  if  not,  we  sliall  iiicct.  1  trust,  in  a  Ix'ttcr." 

At  ciiihtv-tlvo,  \\'c>h'V  sa\s  :  "How  ]iltlo  liave  I  sutlercd  \-('t  ])V 
the  I'usl^  of  niuiKM'ous  years!''  lie  has  a  littlci  (IcM'av  of  airilitv, 
of  vision,  of  ni('in(/ry  in  tilings  recent,  l)nt  not  in  liis  other  senses, 
in  his  i'eli>h  of  sparing"  food  or  ins  clearness  and  accnracy  \w  the 
writing  of  sermons. 

At  eighty-six,  "Now  I  lind  1  grow  old."  The  decays  above 
named  increase,  "AVhat  1  shonld  be  afraid  of  is  that  my  body 
weigh  down  my  mind  and  create  stnbbornness  or  peevishness  ; 
bnt  Thon  shalt  answei-  for  me.  O  Lord!"  He  begins.  17110, 
'*!  ain  now  an  old  man,  decayed  from  head  to  foot."  Intirmities 
close  npon  him.  "Bnt,  l)lessed  be  (rod  I  1  can  preach  and  write 
still."  As  for  many  reasons,  chielly  this,  that  they  woidd  see 
his  face  no  more,  his  congregations  were  now  the  largest  of 
all  his  life,  so  he  never  addressed  them  Avith  greater  i)()wer. 
lie  Avas  in  constant  travel.  In  Ireland,  he  saAV  "such  congre- 
gations as  he  had  never  seen  in  the  Kingdom."  At  Dublin, 
he  dined  with  Father  O'Leary,  a  llomanist  and  an  ()p})oser  ot 
old,  but  a  gentleman  and  now  a  friend.  Uncounted  nmltitu(k^s 
listened  in  manv  a  ])lace,  and  the  AVord  aained  its  ancient 
victories.  There  were  no  mobs,  no  persecutors.  To  tell  of  his 
last  iouriKn's  in  England  Avould  need  a  volume.  No  houses 
could  contain  the  people.  At  Chester,  the  hearers  seemed 
even  niore  than  at  Gwennap.  At  every  jdace  he  sang  his 
brother's  hvmn  :  ''Shrinkimr  from  the  cold  hand  of  death,  I 
soon  shall  gather  n]>  my  feet."  "I  took  a  solemn  leave,"  he  often 
says,  l)ut,  quite  as  often,  "How  are  the  times  changed!"  lie 
had  seen  mol)s  hounded  on  bv  cleruv,  mauistrates  and  irentlenu'r. : 
he  liad  met  every  form  of  misuse  ;  now  all  was  })eace.  A\  itli  ;i 
strong,  sweet  voice,  he  gave  his  last  sermon  at  Newcasth^  1 1 
was  to  the  children  of  the  Sundav-school,   and  Avas  in  Avords  oi' 


]\'eftle'/'s   01 1 1  xUih  (1)1(1  Death. 


09^ 


IK  it  more  than  two  syllables.  Here  lio  asked  for  a  man  known 
Idiii:"  aii'o.  Findinii"  lliat  he  had  been  for  years  in  nii>ery  and 
lilooin.  \\'esley  went  to  se(>  him.  Entering,',  he  said  :  "r)roth('r.  T 
li;i\('  :i  woi'd  from  (rod  unto  thee;  Jesus  ("hi'ist  maketh  tlie«' 
wliolel"  and,  knecdim^-,  ])rayed  1)}'  the  wretched  l)ed.  Hope 
-iiranii"  U}) ;  the  poor  man,  avIio  had  lain  there  for  years,  went  1(» 
:i(';ir  Wesley  })reaeh,  and  soul  and  body  were  whole  auain. 

At  eighty-eiirht,  AV(>>;ley  liad  no  ])ain,  liutliad  losl  slreniith  and 
(>ve-sight.  lie  expeeted  simply  to  sink  until  the  weary  whe(ds  of 
life  stood  still  at  last,  but  on  h(>  si  ill  moved.  "Tis  lime  1o  //'y% 
if  I  am  growing  old,"  he  usi'd  to  (juote  from  Anaereon's  Ode. 

Tn  17!H),  he  lield  at  Piristol  his  last  Conference.  He  could  no 
longer  write,  and  his  signature  to  the  Minutes  woidd  hardly  be 
taken  for  his  name.  It  is,  for  all  that,  his  autograph,  his  last, 
writ  strangely  large,  nor  has  the  world  one  mor(^  venerable.  He 
eould  still  preach,  and,  umler  a  tree  at  A\'inchelsea,  he  soon 
preached  his  last  tield  sermon.  He  even  thought  of  going  to 
Scotland  and  Ireland.  At  length,  the  last  sermon  is  preaclied  at 
Leatherhead,  Feb.  2.').  171)1.  It  was  the  last  of  forty-two  thousand 
four  hundred — an  average  of  tlfteen  a  week,  since  his  return  iVom 
(leorgia  in  173S.  On  Fel).  20,  he  Avrote  his  last  lettei- — to 
"Willx'rforee — to  hearten  him  in  his  efforts  aa'ainst  the  Afrit-an 
slave  trade.  He  then  became  lethargic,  but  rallied  and  si)ent 
hours  in  words  to  friends,  in  snatches  of  song  and  prayer. 
Xalin-c  sank  slowly,  but  on  the  morning  of  "Wednesday,  ]March  2, 
ITin.  he  said,  softly,  "Farewell,"  and  passed  the  heavenly 
l)ortal. 

lie  willed  that  no  funeral  pomp  be  had.  Six  poor  men  should 
licar  him  to  the  grave,  and  to  each  five  dollars  be  j)aid  for  the 
service.  His  body  lay  in  state  in  City  IJoad  Chaixd  for  a  day, 
!Ui(l  at  six  the  next  nu)rning,  to  avoid  the  crowd,  was  (juietly 
buried  in  its  vard.     The  ritual  words  "our  brother"  were  chanu'ed 


HI 


,' 


\  I 


•:;;; 


ib> 


.,  silt 

11:11 
ii»  •♦ 

!:•  :ii 

le  it- 
II'  ? 
•ID 


\\ 


1! 


; 


Ui 


1 

:dij 

w 

'J 

'1;,!       • 

!■     ; 
i 

( 

> 

JOHN    WKSLKV    OS     HIS    MKATHUKI),    WI!HIN(i    Till.    I.KTEU   TO    WlLliKUFOKCE. 


Mife 


]\''\<k-i/'s    (jJil  ^{iji-  anil   J)<titli. 


227 


:MKh 


to  "oiii'  lather,"  and  the    ;-T>liiiL;'  i^-i'lrl"  ot"  tlii'  (.'oiiipany   ai)]ii'()\'cHl 
the  cliaiiii'c. 

Thus  died,  in  tlic  ciiiiily-ciiililh  year  of  his  aii'c  and  tlic  >ixty- 
lit'tli  ot'liis  niiiiisti'v.  the  most  wonderful  man  ot"  liis  \\>^(\  perha})s 
ot' any  of  the  Christian  aiies  siiu-e  tlie  fu'sl.  His  character  nuist 
h(>  tt'lcer,  irom  our  Story  as  it  u'oes.  There*  is  no  special  si)ace  for 
piitraiture  or  euh)i»'v. 

before  Wesley's  own  death,  tlierc  were  ehano-cs  amonu-  those 

who  stood   around    him. 

Some  died  and  others 
arose  in  tluMr  places. 
Of  these,  (hu'  notice 
should  ))(>  taken. 

In  17.S1,  Fletcher  was 
marrieil  to  Mary  Bosan- 
(juet,  who   proved   to   he 
the  lirst  lady  of  Weslcy- 
an  Methodism.      She  was 
horn,  J7o!>,  in  a  family  of 
wealth  and  fashion.     As 
early  as    eiu'ht,  she   was 
tliinkinii- :    "What    is     a 
-ense    of   pardon?"    and 
■■  What  is  faith  in  Jesus?" 
>hc    could    not   2i\e  an- 
swer,   and    yet    she    was 
conscious  of  l)t)th.     Her  (>\perienec  outran  her  undei'standini:-.     In 
the  u"ay  circles   where   her  family  nu)ved,   in  the  opera  an<l  the 
h;ill-i'()um.  the  devout  impressions  remained,  and  some  conversa- 
tions overheard  iVoni  a  Methodist  servant-maid  tixed  her  imi)ri's- 
>ions  and  her  cour>e  of  lii'e.      She  declined.  tVom  i-elii:ious  views, 
II  !?uitor  whom  from  worldly  views  hei'  parents  favored,  and,  he- 

l.> 


MAUY    noSAKQtTI  T    Fr.ETCHET?. 


ft 


'I 


Hi 


I 


:''i 


.1.  Ill 


?» 


liil 


■iii 

Ml 


I     ■! 


:  »   ■  I  V 

■;  'I 

i'il 


^■p 


I  !   ' 


,.)4  i 


»i 


228 


77ie  Stor;/  of  Mtthodlsm. 


x 


coniiiiii"  .'ic(|uaiiit('(l  with  some  Mclhodist  liulics,  slio  rpnounccd  tho 
fa.shioimlilc  world.  A  lil'c  wholly  devoted  to  (iod  seemed  sweet 
1)('\()iid  telliiii:',  and  "it"  I  but  thouu'ht  on  the  name  of  Je.su.s,  mv 
heart  took  fii'e," 

One  day.  iier  father  said:  "There  is  a  i)articular  promise  Mdiieh 
I  i"e(|uire  of  vou — that  is,  that  vou  will  never,  on  anv  oeeasion, 
here  or  hereaftei*.  aftc^mpt  to  make  your  l)rothers  what  you  call 
Christians."  "Looking  to  the  Loi'd,"  she  said,  "T  think,  sir,  T  dare 
not  consent  to  that."  "Then  vou  force  me  to  ])ut  nou  out  of  m\- 
house."  "Yes,  sir,  accordinu'  to  your  views  of  tliinus  I  acknowl- 
edge it  ;  and.  if  T  may  hut  have  your  approval,  no  situation  will 
bo  disaii"reeal)lc."  ('oniiii:^' of  aii'e  and  having' a  fortune  of  her  own, 
she  lived  ai)art  with  her  maid,  iiivini:'  her  time  and  money  to 
usefulness.  She  visited  and  tenderly  loved  her  ])arents,  hut  she 
f(dt  that  the  blaster  had  set  her  tree  for  Ilis  own  service. 

She  owned  a  housi'  at  L:iytonstone,  and  there,  with  Sarah  livan, 
slio  established  a  school  for  orphans,  a  refui:'e  for  the  poor,  a 
proaeliinii-jilace  and  a  ])reachei's"  lioiue.  A^'eslev,  in  1  7(»."»,  says  : 
"I  there  found  one  Christian  fanuly."  Two  years  later,  he  says: 
"O  what  a  house  of  (iod  is  here!"  .Vfter  Sarah's  death,  the 
institution  Mas  removed  to  a  lame  fai'iu  at  Cross  Hall.  Here 
jNIiss  BosaiKjuet's  meetlnes  were  overcrowded,  and  she  bciian  to 
liold  othei's  abroad.  A\'esley  says  of  the  Hall  :  "It  is  a  i)atterii. 
and  a  'general  blessinii"  to  the  country."  She  became,  an  actual 
])reacher,  and  by  Wesley's  advic(>.  "1  think  the  case*  I'csts  here. 
in  your  havinu'  an  extraordinary  call.  So  has  every  one  of  our 
lay  i)reachei's.  !^^ethodism  is  AvlK)lly  an  extraordinai'v  dis])ens;i- 
tion  of  (lod's  ])rovi(lence."  Diliss  Bosauiiuet,  uud  the  women 
wliom  she  led.  did  not  enter  i)ulpits.  She  had  in  tlie  chapels  of 
her  buildini>"  a  seat  a  little  above  the  tloor  from  which  she  n-axc 
expositions  and  exhortations.  "Ilor  manner  of  si)eakinii'  i- 
smooth,    easy  and    natural,    even    when  the    sense   is   dee})    and 


M 


Wesle/i<   Old  Age  loid  Death 


229 


f^troncf.     Her  words  are  us  u  tire,  eoiiveviuir  both  liirlit  uiul  heat 


to  nil  that  hoar  iici' 


>o  sai( 


I  W 


cslcv 


llcr  inarriairc!  was  in  Uatlcy  Church,  Nov.,  IT.Sl,  and  the  wod- 
iliiii;-  was  a  rciiiiioiis  fcslival.  Fourteen  uiontlis  at'lcr,  Fletcher 
wrote  to  Charles  A\'<'sley  :  "  Xow-uiarried  ])eoj)le  do  not  at  tirst 
know  oacli  oilier,  hut  I  can  tell  you  Providence  has  reserved  a 
pri/.e  tor  lue,  and  that  n)y  wife  is  far  Ix'tter  to  nie  than  the 
Church  to  Christ." 

T'niting"  their  activities,  they  opened  new  places  ot"  worshij), 
luiildini:'  a  chajx'l  and  school-house  near,  so  that  in  any  jjarisli 
chaiiii'os  the  Methodists  uiiu'ht  still  ])e  safe.  Into  their  Snnday- 
xlidol  they  soon  gathered  three  liundred  scholars.  They  iiave 
;iu!iy  most  of  their  income.      It  went  amoiii:' the  ])oor:   it  l'urni>li- 

l  (liimer  to  those  who  came  to  the  j)reachinu;'  from  afar:   it  huilt 


(M 


dfl 


(11 


anu  lurnisiied  iiouses  toi'  reiii:'it>us  ser\  ice. 

Fletcher  at,  last  wore  out.  One  who  had  known  him  i'or  year: 
"never  saw  him  in  any  temper  in  which  I  would  not  w  ish  to  h( 
fdiiiid  at  deatli."'     His  List  Suu(la\'  ser\ice 


was   loii2'  and    oroken 


liy  faintness,  but  it    was    iinpressi\-e   even   to   awt'uliies>.      lie   lay 
.-diiie    days    in   minified    sulferinii'   and    triumi»h.     "Shout,    shout 


aloiK 


i:-'i 


le  crie( 


I:  "I 


"W 


ant  a  ii'ust   of  praise  to  ii'o  to  the  ends  of 


the  earth  I"'  .V  loiii:'  i)r()C(>ssion  of  the  ])oor  were  allowed  one 
more  h)ok  of  his  loving"  face,  and  that  uiii'ht  he  died,  making"  sii:n 
at  the  last  tliat  he  thouii'ht  on  lieaveifs  l)liss  and  saw  it  ojxMiiiii:' 
before  liini.  AN'esley's  brief  word  of  him  was  :  "I  have  not  I'ound, 
iidi' do  I  e.\[)ect  to  liiid,  another  such  on  this  side  of  eternity.*" 

On  March  i^'.t,  ITSS,  Charles  AVt'sley  di(>d.  He  will  l>e  known 
a^  the  Poet  of  Methodism,  and,  we  believe,  the  Poet  Laureate'  of 
Cliristiiinity  in  tlie  Kniiiish  laiiiiuan'e  and  of  the  world.  lie 
v\..>.  as  many  a  poet  has  l)een,  rather  inclined  to  moodiness  and 
ili>conteiit .  The  even  temi)er.  the  clear  insiiiht  of  men  and  teii- 
(ItMicies,  the  skill  of  adapting-  })olicies  to  chani:ed  conditions,  these 


I 


r  , 


at. 


Hi;  i 


f    ( 


■iiij 


:     I 


I 


\ 


II 


Ill  '■■ 


2;;o 


'//>''    Slnri/   of  Mrflioil !siii . 


tliiiiirs  wliicli  >(»  iii;irk»'<l  .lolm,  .'Hid  tiltcil  liiiii  fof  llio  irrcjit  work 
•  )t'  liis  life.  ( 'liMi'Ics  (lid  nol  li:i\(',  or,  iit  lr;(>l.  in  some  I'm'  lower 
d(\i:r(M'.  \'v\  he  Ml  lirsl  w:is  in  jidNiiiicc  ot'  his  cldci"  Im-oIIht. 
diaries,  al  ()xlol'd,  was  llie  first  iiieiiilier  of  the  Holy  ('lul>,  the 
lirsl  to  be  called  Methodist,  the  lirst  to  expei'ieiice  regeneration. 
lie  was  also  tlietirst,  and  lor  a  lonu"  tinie  almost  t]i(M)nly.  man 
who  ventui'ed  to  ]i(dd  ^^etll()dist  "nieetinii's"  at  the  same  honr 
with  "sei'vices"  in  the  elmrclies.  A\'hen  he  and  liis  jiooi-  collieis 
were  ret'used  IIk;  sacrament  at  IJrislol.  Im^  took  the  responsiljilily 
of  ii'ivinu"  tliem  tlu;  sanu!  at  Kinii'swood,  as  not  even  John  had 
yet  done.  A\'ilh  all  this  courau'e  an<l  tVee(U)m,  he  was  a  Ilii^h 
Churchman,  and  even  i-el'iised  to  l)e  liuried  a,t  City  Ivoad  ('ha|)el, 
which  liecame  the  vei'y  \\'estuiinstcr  .Vlihey  of  Methodism,  lio- 
cause  it  was  unconsecrated  iiround. 

He  was  moi'e  elo(|uent  than  his  brother,  and,  cvoii  ''in  auv  aiiA 
f('ei)leness  extreme,"  he  still  ])reacho(l,  resting  at  inter\als  in  his 
sermon,  while  the  conii'reii'at ion  saiii:'. 

( )f  condemnecl  prisoners  he  was  all  his  life  most  pitiful,  and  his 
last  i)()etical  pul)licatiou  was  of  ''Prayers"  for  them,  which,  it  is 
iiolecl.  brought  in  one  day  nineteen  to  the  Sa\iour.  '*Xot  unto  me, 
()  Lord  !  not  unto  me  I''  lie  adds.  ]\rost  etlectively  did  he  "sing 
the  fiospel."'  A  hynm  seemed  always  I'orming  in  liis  heart  and 
rising  to  his  lips.  He  daily  rodi^  a  little  gray  liorst;  and  wore, 
even  in  sunmier,  a  winter  dress.  Retui'iiing  from  his  i-ide,  he 
often  brought  ii  card  penciled  with  ell'usions.  "Pen  and  ink,  \)vn 
and  ink,"'  \w  would  cry,  and,  ignoring  all  ])ersoiis  and  propi'ieties, 
he  Mould  put  the  ell'usions  ill  an  abiding  form,  'riien  he  ^\•as  at 
ease,  kind  and  courteous,  his  mind  being  rcdieved,  an<l  the  world 
a  hymn  the  richer.  Jlis  last  poem,  the  last  of  over  six  thoii-^aiid, 
he  dictated  from  his  dvini:'  l)ed  and  his  wife  wrote  it  from  his  lii)s  : 

"  Jesus,  my  only  liope  Thou  art ; 
Strength  of  luv  failing  llesh  and  heart." 


■]♦  tt 


lea : 
I 

lUid 
lau. 


]|  e.sVr'v'.s'   01(1  A'/c  (iiiil  iJciifli 


231 


"1 


lie   was   cii^litx'   wlicii.   al'tcr    a    Iomh'    jHn 


he    (lied    111    ]K'a 


CO 


II 


IS    wile 


«m'\i\f(l 


»\'   ihirt  \-tniir    vcar 


(iNiiii:'    111 


lsi'2.     Til 


Mclliodisls  dealt  well  l»y  Iht,  Ikt  tlauulilci",  and  licr  sous,  ( 'liarlcs 
and  SainiK'l.  Willtcrlnric  and  other  tViends  lieneruuslv  pi'ovided 
Mrs,  Wesley  ail  annuity. 

A\'liile  these  emii.eiil  Methodists  are  thus  recorded,  Methodists 
ol'  lower  deiii'ee  were  eudiiii:'  joyl'id  lives  ])\  peaeet'id  or  triuiuj)h- 
ant  deaths,  "Our  jx'ople  die  well."'  Davy  had  not;  yet  furnished 
the    safety    lamp    to    the    coal    mines,    and    fre(|uent    explosions 


AV( 


re  fatal    to    many    a    miner.      Wesley's   jireaehinu"  tauulit    tl 


10 


miners  how   to  di(^      After  tin;  tivo  o'clock  si'i'inoii    fhov   went 


«iiiu'in,U'   into  the   depths   of  the  iiiinos,  ready  for  the  di\ine 


\v 


ill 


and.  if  the  tire-dami)  blasted  them,  out  of  the  do[)ths  they  ci-iod 
unto  (iod  and  he  heard  them.  John  Patrick  Avas  hurned  in  an 
explosion.  On  his  blistered  knooH,  from  which  tlio  tiosh  was 
(lrop])ini2',  he  adored  (iod.  'Tilory  Ix^  to  thy  name  1  Tiiy  will  bo 
(lone!     I'liv  will  be  done!"     On  the  niuht  of  his  funeral  sermon 


heii'i 


in  a   revival   in  w 


•hicl 


1  more  than  liftv  of  his  neiiihbors  wero 


converted.      AN'ell  did  a  n'ood  cloruyman  of  tho  Church  say  :   "  I 
shoiiM  be  happy  to  see  my  own  parishioiu.'rs  all  Methodists  at  this 


liioiiiei 


It!" 


( )iie  u't'iioratioii  .u'ooth  and  another  u'enoration  conieth 


th 


•th 


Ii 


11 


tile  Minutes  of  \~f<'.\  a'i)pears  the  iiamo  of  .\dani  Clarke.  Froi 
his  Life, by  his  ihiiigliter, we  learn  that  a  preacher,  dohn  I)rett(dl, 
found  him,  six  years  bet'ore,  in  .Viiherton,  Jreland.  His  father 
wa>  a  school-master,  ])()or,  l)ut  well  ediurated,  ruliiii:"  aiul  trainiuii' 
Ills  own  family  \\('ll.  Adam  was  ''no  Aulijar  boy"" — cheerful, 
strong' and.  from  his  eiii'htli  year,  sell-support inu".  Tie  ('ould  not 
Icai'ii.     "O  what  a  stui)id  ass  !"  one  dav  strauii'elv  touched  him. 

His  brain  aroused,  "His  lon^-  sorrow  turiie(l  into  instant  joy," 
niid  studv  became  his  delinht.  and  his  attainments  wonderful,      ( )f 


uiii'uau'e 


he  1 


cnew  o\-er  twciitx'  we 


ii'.d   maiiN'  crit icalh',  while 


Mil 


i 


« \ 


1     '  -1 

.■■■''    i 

1'    -HI 

i 

■      ! 

•k! 


i' 


•tot 


i 


: 


WW 


i 


\: 


ADAM  CI.AUKK.  I-f,.  T). 


ii  li 


!  I;. 


]]'rsh>/'s    (till    A'li     II ml    Ihftl/,. 


L>83 


» 


";il]   IcMniiiii:"  \\!i^   lii*    |ir(p\  iiicc      It    \\;i<  wiili   liiitri-  stni,ir,i;1(!.s 

iIimI  lie  nilcl'cd  into  the  l\  iliLKlmil  ot'  (iod.  lie  Ii;i(|  licNCr  liccil 
"wicked,"  ;i>  the  word  ti'oc^  :  lie  li;id  t'cni'ccl  (iod  niid  krpt  liis 
riillllli;ill(llliclll>.    lull     lie    <|ll;Mlcd     lict'oic   I  lie  di-|  .Ir;|-H1T  dj"    ;i    Iioiy 

(m'(1.  witlidiit   wilox'  l';i\{ir  lie   cdidd  iidt    li\r.      "I'ray    to   ('lirisl," 

i\'illli'  !l>  ;i  word  ol' li'llidlllicr  lo  lii^  xilll.  I'd  llilii  lie  Iddkrcl  ;  Iim 
>!i'iii:i:'l»'s  ('('M.-cd,  1111(1  tlifiT  w;i>  :i  li'I'c.'iI  c'diii.  llr  w:i--  in  ii  nc'.V 
lic'iv en  :ind  ;i  nt'W  ciii'tli  in  wliidi  lie  I'diind  .'dionl  Inni,  like  a  rolic, 
;i  iiL:liicdii>ii('s>  piii'f  and  iicrl'cct.  Litr  ln'canic  to  him  ^iiddcniy 
I'icli.  -iraniic  and  jilcasin;:'.  Iiv  lln'  (  liani^c  tliaf  wa-  in  liinixdt". 
He  knew  lidw  tliis  cliani^c  liad  cdnic.  and  lie  uaNc  liini-'cit'  to  the 
work  dl'  callinL:'  and  LUiidini;'  dihiTs  to  the  .-anic  iSccdMnni:' an 
cxhdilfr.  he  came  Id  the  school  at  K  ini:>wood.  He  Tared  hard 
there.  'I'd  warm  hinistdf.  he  worked  in  the  i:ar(h'n  and.  diLiLi'iiii:' 
up  a  hah-L:iiinea  t'or  which  he  Idimd  no  dwiier.  he  lidiii^iil  a  Ile- 
hrew  iifaminar,  tlic  I'dunihit  ion  ol'  all  lii>  ( )ld  I'otainent  knowl- 
('(iLI'e. 

( >ne  dav,  \\'e>ley  wa>  at  l\ini!swodd.  "ho  yy^w  \\\>\\  td  (le\(»t(^ 
ydiir-ell"  entirely  to  the  work  dl"  (iod?"  "Sir.  I  wi-li  td  l)e  and 
111  (Id  wliatexcr  (iod  |ilea>es."  "I  think  y^nv  had  lietter  i^o 
ell!  into  the  work  at  lariic"  I'rayini:'  a  few  uiiinile>.  with  his 
hands  on  ( 'larke's  head,  he  sent  the  yon  ni:'  man  t  lni>  "  drdaine(|  "  to 
liradi'drd  circuit.  Thi-  circuit  had  thirty-three  appoint meiil>.  so 
that  Clarke  was  iidt  twice  a  inonth  at  the  >aine  ])iace.  and  he  was 
every  day  in  the  saddle  as  w(dl  as  in  tlie  jjulpil — a  i:od(l  tliin^:-  tor 
"a  Vdiiiiii'  man  without  nuudi  variety  ol'  texts  oi-  matter."  He 
\va^  iidw  t  wcnty-t  Wd.  small,  like  Coke  and  the  \\'esley<.  but  act- 
ive, imiscular  and  suii>hiiiy.  His  youthful  air  aided  his  talents 
in  makiii;^'  him  })opular.  His  >tu(ly  was  already  prodigious. 
Wesley,  this  year,  saw  what  a  helper  he  had  piined  and  put  him 
(in  the  roll  ot"  itinerants,  without  ])roliation.  The  next  year,  he 
was  un  the  Norwich  ciri'uit,  with  two  hundred  a)id   sixtv  miles  of 


!-'fj 


\  y 


'I. I 

.  Ill 

111 
••I 


HI 
IK 
If 


M.!t{ 


'vr . 


V    i 


A   t 


2U 


Till      Sfni'if    iif   Ml  tliDil isiil. 


nioiiflily  t i'!i\('l.  Mild  "(iiic  li(ir>('   tnr  Iniir  iirciiclicrs." -o  tliiif  ono 

IIIMV    lM'|ir\c  tli;it     he   w  ;i  -  "  UK  i-l  1  V   nil    \\u\\.   lii^  -;i(  Mlr-I  i:ii:>    oil    \\\- 

own  liiicls.""  Ill  fl(  \('ii  iiidiilli-,  lie  |irt':i(lii'(l.  in  I  w  cut  v-l  w  d  town- 
;iii(l  \  illiiLic^.  foiii'  liiiiidrfil  ;iiiil  til'lv  >rnii.)ii>.  with  rxliui'int  ion- 
Im'VoikI  (•(iliMlillU',  willi  tili'lc^.-,  |)!i»i(ili;it('  ->lll(lv.  Ilf  ^tlldird  dii 
ll{»rs('l>!irU  ;i>  it' lie  were  ill  ;i  cell  or  ;i  ilcscrt .  No  WOlldtT  tliilt  lie 
ht'ciiiiic  :i  111:111  iit'tcr  \\'t'>lcv">  own  liciirl  I 

Here  cMiiic  ;i  >tr:iiii:('  |i:i»:ii:f  in  lii^  lii>loi'y.  lie  li:id  wriKcii 
on  llic  window  ol"  liis  lodi^inn's  :i  licniit  il'iil  Lntiii  icis^mi^c  in 
Avhicli  \'iii:'il  s|)(';iU>  of  lli((  'rrojiin  li;ird>lii|»>,  niid  I.atinni,  llic 
wislicd-l'or  lioiiic.  Ill  l;i->l.  I'^or  Lnliiini.  (Inrkc  skilll'iiiiy  put 
c'd'luin,  licii\(Mi.  A  ])rc;iclit'r  wrote  liciuMtli  :  "hid  yoii  do  llii^ 
I0  show  tliiit  yon  coidd  write  Liitin?  ()  yoiiii^'  111:111.  iinproNc 
yonr  liiiic  tor  eternity  i>  ;il  iiaiid  I"  'riii>  relmke  eaine  nearlteinn- 
('larke's  ruin,  lie  ea\e  up  >lndy.  and  tor  inoiitlis  pined  in  a 
eertain  idleness  ot'  mind.  ( )nt  ol'  this,  another  rallied  him  to 
his  true  career.  In  CoriiwalK  where  he  ]»reaehe(l  in  the  opi'ii 
air.  excii  amid  rain  and  snow,  to  erowd-^  which  no  house  could 
hold,  he  admitted,  as  a  comcrt,  Samuel  I)rew,  a  shoeiiiaker'- 
apprentice.  "^Pliis  Pn^v,  by  ii'enius  and  study,  won  such  a  jjlace 
in  literature,  and  especially  in  metaphysics,  that  he  was  oU'ercil 
a  ]»rot'ess()!->hi[)  at  ( ).\t"or(l.  1  le  wrote  .})oems  truly  sublime,  and 
was  ''one  ot"  those  jji'odiuies  ol'  nature  and  irrace  ""  wliii-h  (iod 
rarely  exliihits.      lie  li\('d  and  died  a  local  preacliiM". 

Clarke's  ( 'ornwall  achiewments  tixed  his  ])lace  in  ^lethodism. 
"\^^'sley■s  pulpit  talent  was  now  easily  the  tirsl  in  Knuland  and  he 
was  second  to  no  AVesleyan.  For  halt' a  century  he  was  the  fore- 
most scholar  in  the  ( "oniiect  ion.  Tie  was  in  oovornmeiit  employ 
on  task>  dcmandinii'  hi;ili  scholarship  and  \vas  a  member  ot'  ten 
learned  societies.  lie  could  ac(|uire  better  than  he  could  di- 
<I'e>t  and  reprodm'c  knowledi:'e.  so  that  with  him  knowledi^c 
was    not    always    jiower.      Ilis    chief    work,    the    CoinmtMitary. 


'\i 


ikci'"- 


{ 


W'rs/i'i/'s    (jlil   ^\i/i;   dill/    Ihiitli, 


•2;^5 


"A  help  Id  llif  Ih'IIci"  iiinlfr^t  uin  liiii;'  nt'tlii-  >;ii'rf(l  >crii)l  ur<'>i'' 
tiiiilMiii»'<l  \;i-t  Iciiriiiiii:'  iiml  rr^cni-fli.  It  \\:i'«  i>rii'ii  itcciiI  ric 
ll<'  iirL;'<'il  lliiil  tlif  "  ii!itliM-h ""  t  li;il  lciii|ilc(l  l'".\i'  \\;i^  iKil  ;i  "-cr- 
pt'iit ."  'mt    !i  "  iiioiikcy,'' on   tlir   ^jtoiiihI   lliat    tin-   rout    i?  "'.>k'ck, 


^^Pmw^^^:?^^^^-:'^ 


DU.  ADAM  CLAHKE'S  SCHOOLIIOCSi;  AM)  ClIUKCII,   I'OllT  SlIiWAUT,  lUELANU. 

supple,   Avily,   tirlfiil.''     To  this  a  wag  agreed;  for '' AVlio  knows 
so  well  what  tcMiiptcd  Kvc  as  Adam';''' 

His  coiniiuMitarics  lia\t'  long  hccii  siqxTSfdcd.  hut  tiicy  arc  so 
iilcutiticd  with  Mcthodi-ni  and  haxc  >o  luiich  \ahial>lc  matter 
thai  they  ;ire  no\s-  in  j)roeess  ol"  re-editing  l>y  the  K'f\ ,  I)r.  ( 'urry. 


' 

'■A 

1 

.'  ■  \ 

i 

1 

■  » 

1 

1 

If! 


't.  I 
lit  1 

llfl 
litt 

M<  i 
•lOtti 


MhlH 


■  ( .  I 


.  \ 


', 


'\\ 

1 

t 

> 

23  () 


T/tc  .Voz-y  r//  Mt'thoilisii), 


Adam  Cliirkc.  IlioiiLiii  a  liniiuisi.  "could  not  retain  word?*.'' 
At'ttM'livc  tli()ii>aiid  >t'nii()ii>,  lir  rccMllcd  no  iii>t:ni»'t*  where  lie 
knew  Iteroreliiilid  a  >entence  llial  he  >liould  uttei'.  That  \v;i- 
exIeni|ior;nieon>  ]ireaeliini:' ;  and  when  he  \v:is  in  .lersi  i  he  did 
llie  >;nne  in  I'^reneh.  lie  \\as;i  man  greatly  Iielo\('(l;  iiml.  thoui^h 
Iii>  IiretJii'en  rejeeied  >oine  ol'  hi-;  \ie\\-..  ihev  elio-e  no  man  >o 
many  t  inies  as    president    ot'  the  ( 'onlereiiee.       lie  died    ot'  cholera 

in  in;;j. 

In  I7Nl,  came  into  ))i'ol)alion  (now  lenulhened  to  t  welve  yeais). 
in  ( 'oni'ei'ence.  Melville  Home.  lie  Ix'came  at'ler  three  year^  a 
(der^iynian  in  the  Chnrcji,  at  which  his  hrethi'en  wei'e  ulad.  lor 
it  Avas  introdufinu'  their  own  /eal  and  doctrine  to  lea\en  the 
Church  A\  ith  eN'anii'i'lii'al  and  revivinu' piety.  So  in  this  instance  ii 
Iridydid.  J  le  became  chaplain  ot"  Sierra  Leone,  where  .VlVican 
]ieatheni>m  w  as  Iteiorc^  his  eyes.  The  siii'lit  touchccl  his  heart. 
lie  'wi'ote  "Letters  on  Missions,"  -which  stirred  all  dexout  nu'U  in 
J'jiiiland.  He  charLicil  himseU'  and  them  with  neu'lecl  ot'  Christ's 
Li'reat  command  in  nciilcctinLT  t'(U'ei:iii  missions.     "What  mone\- 


ia\  ('  w  e 


■  id»cril>ed?      ^\'llat  associations  lia\'e  we  tornied  ?      What 


])i'a\(M's  ]ia\  (^  w  <' oll'ered  up"'"     Jle   slated  the   broad  aIcws  i 
>o  liappih'  held  b\-  all   laborers  amonn'  the  hoalhen.      Not   ( 'aj 


low 


\lll- 


i-m.  not  Arniiiiiaiii-m,  not  Li)iscopaey,  not  Dissent,  but  Christian- 
ity \\as  the  nii>sioiiary  to  teach. 

The  result  was  the  tbrmini:'  ol"  the  London  ^Missionary  Society. 
TTawcis.  a  chaplain  ol"  Lady  Huntiuii'doii,  i:a\-e  ll\-e  liundred 
pounds  to  e(|iiip  the  lirsl  missionaries,  "^riiere  had  been  sudi 
societio  in  Lnuland.  buf  this  one  represented  the  New  l\e\i\al. 
Its  tirst  missionaries  (ITIH!)  went  to  Tahiti.  It  sent  the  lir-l 
Protestant  missionaries  to  China,  sendinii"  ^lorrison  in  l-"^*'".  avIh' 
opened  the  Chinese  laiiLiuaii'c'  to  ( iosjiel  uses.  To  .\.l"rica,  it  lias 
s-ent  Mollal  and  Lli'lii'ishmi'.  Its  Madagascar  mission  lias  had  a 
straiiiie,   e\eiitt"ul.   but    ti'iumphant,  coui;*e.      It    has    now   over  a 


W(:</i//'.s     Old    A(lf    iliid    I  hath. 


\\'S\ 


Icrii 


US), 


iiir 


11. 


!(•(>    It 


•n  111 


liiiudrod  iind    lit'fv  hilturcrs.  ami   spciKls  yearly  oNcr  halt'  a  inilliou 
ol  (liillai's. 


v\ 


<■•  s 


?  r 


-  ri 


w 


e  havL'    soon    Coko    alroadv   a  niLssi(»iiarv  suc-irtv  in  iiiinsrll'. 


Mctliddisni  now  aurain  strotciios  lurtli  to  save  tlu;  world. 


i 


t 


\m  «i 


" 

•    1 

1  1 

: 

.  :  • 

irii 

ill! 

'><    l{f.    I. 


ii:!  ' 


IK 


III 


II  1.1! 


I 


238 


The  •'itorij  of  Methodism, 


lip 


?    I 


M' 


A  helper  now  appears  in  James  Creiuhtoii.  lie  was  bora  in 
Ireland  and  trained  at  T)ul»lin  l^niversily.  The  liishop  of  Kil- 
more,  Avho  ordained  liini  and  made  him  his  eurate,  enjoined  him 
"to  sav  nothinir  about  faith  in  his  sermons,'' that  l)ein<j!;  "fanatleal." 
Creiirhton  helieved  that  there  was  in  religion  something  l»etter 
than  he  had  yet  found.  II(>  read  Wesley  and  Fletehcr  ;  in  a  barn 
he  heard  an  itinerant,  but  he  had  no  counsel  or  sympathy.  His 
brother  clergymen  shunned  him ;  his  people  thought  him  mad. 
He  felt  urged  to  greater  activity  and  began  to  preach  beyond  his 
own  iield,  wherever  he  could  reach  the  people.  He  was  amazed 
at  the  power  that  attended  him.  "I  never  saw  any  fruits  of  my 
lal)or  till  I  became  irregular."  He  was  already  a  Methodist  and 
his  brother  became  class  leader. 

He  was  attacked  by  Papists — ]>y  the  clergymen  of  the  church. 
To  the  latter  he  proved  that  he  Avas  bringing  men  into  the  church. 
Even  Papists  were  ct)nverted  and  becoming  churchmen.  This 
last  aroused  nnu-derous  mobs  against  him,  but  between  the  two 
9[)positi{)ns  ho  labored  right  on.  In  the  impulse  of  conscience, 
"as  he  would  not  have  done  for  all  that  this  world  can  ati'ord,"  he, 
in  two  years,  traveled  in  his  preaching  four  thousand  miles  with- 
in two  Irish  counties.  Coming,  at  Wesley's  invitation,  to  London, 
he  became  at  once  a  foremost  man.  He  aided  Wesley  in  onlain- 
ing  Coke  and  rendered,  after  Wesley's  death,  the  hiuhest  order  of 
service,  until  his  own  departure  in  LslO. 

Matthew  Joyce,  a  Papist,  an  outlaw,  dangerous  and  dcirradiMl 
from  youth,  showed  true  regeneration.  His  only  re«-ret  for  :tn 
act  in  his  early  life  Avas  for  cursing  his  motlier.  He  (quieted  him- 
self on  being  told  by  Komanisis  that  no  child  can  sin  l)ef()ro  tlic 
age  of  seven.  At  ten,  ho  vowed  never  to  speak  jjrofanely,  and 
that  vow  he  never  Itroke.  For  years  he  did  and  sultei'ed  all  tiiiit 
Itelongs  to  the  rudest  course  of  violence  and  sin.  With  all  IIk 
vices  of  the  prodigal,  he  had  the  ferocity  of  a  pirate.     He  was  :i 


Wefilei/'-s   Old  A'je  and  JJeaJ/i. 


230 


pest  iiud  a  terror,  and  more  than  onco  wa.s  Avillinii'  lo  Itc^  a  nuir- 
(Icror.  Wesley  erossed  his  traek  in  Dublin.  He  saw  that  kissing 
of  the  ehild  on  the  puljjit  stairs.  That  aet  and  ^^'esl(>y"s  vener- 
able appearance  touehed  his  heart.  He  understood  not  one  word 
ot"  the  preaehing.  so  dark  was  his  mind:  hut  he  went  to  the 
(•liai)els  and  in  a  tew  months  was  pourinu"  out  the  distress  of  his 
soul  in  })rayer.  .Soon  he  was  a  converted  man,  and  how  nuieh 
that  meant  with  him  I  More  it  eould  not  n)ean  with  any  human 
])oing  !  He  was  now  a  good  citizen:  he  ])eeame  a  iiai'd  student; 
ho  had  a  pious  wife.  Ten  years  after  his  tirst  sigjit  of  AVesley, 
the  latter  sent  him  to  preach  on  the  Limerick  cii'cuit.  He  felt  un- 
iMiual  to  his  new  duties,  but  his  wif(!  wrote;  to  cheer  him.  Soon 
ho  was  glad  in  his  new  calling;  "so  many  smiles  of  His  face 
have  rested  on  me."  So  rescued  from  the  de[)ths,  he  served 
tliirtv  vears  in  the  ministrv. 


\vi;>i.i.VAN  ciiAi'ii.,  Till  ui.i;s,  iuki.and. 


.If 


•Oil   { 

'■ I'.l 

..■■I-., 

U!  1  I    I 

":  :  HI 

I 

■  ';! 


as 


1; 


I! 


H.it 


i«i>     I 


le  ! 


I  I 


Ill 
Hi 


a 


i     'li 

■          II 

i 

I         ] 

1           1 

1 

Hi 


♦ 


!t! 


li 


CHAPTER  XVTII. 

Wesle//  (nil/  Jfis  Itistitutions, 

AVIN(i    soon  what    iiicii  were  rising  to  help 
AVcslov,  and  to  ci\vv\  on  thi;  work  of  Method- 
i.sni  after  his  death,  it  is  as  well  to  begin  to 
traee  the  position  of  his  eonneetion  in  itself 
and  its  attitude  towards  the  C'imrch  of  En- 
gland.   ^^'c  have  seen  how  easily,  not  oidy  the 
moral,  l)ut  also  the  material  features  of  the 
system  came  on.    Thev  were  unfolded  like  a  vciie- 
table  growlh — first  the  blade,  then  the  car  and 
afterwards  the  full  corn  in  the  ejir.     It  has  been 
said  of    the    English  Constitufion    that    it  was    not 
formed  :  it  grew.      So  "like  some  tall  i)alm  the  won- 
di'dus  f:il)rie  sprang''  of  the  institutions  of  Methodism. 

The  divine  will  seems  as  elear  in  the  eall  of  "Weslev  as  in 
the  eall  of  Al)raham,  and  the  movements  of  the  two  nu'u  were 
analoiious,  thouirh  aeross  the  lai)se  of  aires.  AVeslev,  from  his 
own  personal  experience,  felt  the  needs  of  England,  but  he  ex- 
l)ected  the  reforms  to  be  within  the  Church  itself.  "A  little 
church,"'  rich  in  zeal,  power  and  experience,  "in  a  large  church," 
that  should  soon  or  late  feel  in  its  extremities  the  vital  force 
of  the  inner  one,  was  his  ideal  of  a  reforming  system.  Soon, 
howevei',  his  doctrines  and  his  modes  of  statinir  them  were 
found  to  shut  him  from  the  chui'ch  i)ulpits.  Xor  could  his 
congregations  be  held  in  any  church  editice.  The  need  of  ])er- 
sonal  and  more  private  religious  conversation  led  to  the  use 
of  "rocmis,"  and  soon,  as  at  Bristol,  an  entire  building  w;i< 
needed.      A  local  habitation  at  once  fixed  the  character  of  the 


^Ve»h.'l/  axil  I/is  Iii,sfifi(ffo)is. 


241 


whole  tiiovcnicnt,  juul  tlu;  layinir  of  tlu>  coriu'r-stono  of  tlic  chapel 
iit  Bristol  Avus  laying  the  corneixstone  of  Methodism  as  an 
Jiistitute.  IIow  chapels  rose  at  London  and  elsewhere  has  l)een 
fully  traced. 

These  chaix'ls  were  Wesley's  own  alfair.  lie  l)uilt  them  with 
monev  of  Ids  own,  or  of  his  own  raising.  Ills  hold  upon  them 
ho  never  loosened.  As  he  could  not  in  person  take  care  of  the 
separate  and  growing  i)roperties,  he  conveyed  the  cha})els  and 
parsonages  to  local  trustees,  to  he  held  for  the  use  of  such 
preachers  as  John  or  Charh's  AVesley  should  send,  or,  afte  • 
the  death  of  the  AVesleys,  such  as  the  Conference  should  ap- 
point. 

The  Conference  was  then  composed  of  such  itinerants  as 
Wesley  chose  to  call  in  anv  vear  to  meet  him.  It  was  found 
that  a  hody  so  constituted  could  not  l»e  known  in  law  ;  it  nuist 
1)0  more  precisely  deiinod  and  created  hy  methods  more  reliahle, 
or  it  could  not  control  the  properties.  The  Conference  had 
l)oon  oidv  an  extension  of  Weslev  himself,  heing  counselors  of 
his  own  choosing,  with  whom  his  decision  was  final. 

Ill  ITS 4,  the  year  in  which,  as  we  shall  see,  the  M.  E.  Church 
ill  An\eri('a  was  organized,  AVesley  gave  to  the  Conference  a 
fixed  legal  character  hy  the  Deed  of  Declaration.  It  is  the 
Constitution  of  AVeslevan  ]\Iethodism. 

This  "^lagna  Charta"  opens  with  a  rehearsal  of  the  usages 
already  prevailing,  as  Ave  have  lu'iefly  stated  them  al)ove.  It 
then  names  one  hundred  Avell-tried  preachers,  Avho  are  to  he 
"Wesley's  true  and  lawful  representatives,  and  to  he  "The  Confer- 
onoo  of  the  People  Called  ^Methodists."  This  Legal  Hundred  are 
to  till  their  own  vacancies  ;  to  reckon  forty  a  quorum,  unless 
llieii-  Avholc  numher,  through  death  or  otherAvise,  fall  helow  forty  ; 
to  meet  annually  at  a  ])lace  of  their  own  choosing ;  to  sit  not  less 
lliau  live  days,  or  over  three  Aveeks.     Their  president  Avas  to  have 


.■ 


.'  *;. 


:i 


n 


tell 


il 


242 


Tlie  St  or  If  of  Methodism. 


*.) 


botli  !i  personal  tind  an  official  vote  ;  any  nieniher  uosent  for  two 
8e8si(nis  tbrfoited  his  s(!at,  unless  lie  was  present  on  the  first  day 
of  the  third  session,  or  was  excused  hy  a  vote  of  the  Conference. 
This  Conference  could  admit  preachers  to  probation,  and  proba- 
tioners to  membership,  and  could  expel  ofi'enders.  To  the  chapels, 
it  could  appoint  none  but  Methodists,  and  those  for  no  longer 
than  three  years,  unless  they  were  ordained  clergymen  of  the 
Church  of  England.  It  could  empower  members  to  act  as  its 
legal  representatives  in  any  place.  If  for  three  successive  j'cars 
its  members  were  less  than  forty,  or  if  for  the  same  length  of 
time  it  tailed  to  meet,  it  was  therel)v  dissolved  and  thenceforward 
all  its  properties  were  to  l)el()ng  to  their  respective  trustees  for 
the  use  of  such  pastors  as  the  trustees  themselves  should  appoint. 
All  preachers  connected  with  the  Conference  were  later  allowcc! 
to  vote  upon  the  filling  of  vacancies,  and  such  as  had  been 
members  a  fixed  lunnber  of  vcars  Avere  to  name  the  President  of 
the  Conference,  whom  the  Conference  itself  nnist  confirm. 

In  no  other  way  than  this  could  the  economy  of  ^Methodism  be 
preserved.  It  nuist  otherwise  br(>ak  up  into  Congregationalism. 
For  more  than  a  hundred  yi'ars  it  has  worked  well.  The  success 
of  such  a  svstem,  of  anv  svstem,  nuist  de|)end  on  the  character  of 
the  men  who  work  under  it.  Such  has  l)cen  the  honor,  forbear- 
ance and  l)rotherliness  of  the  A\'esleyan  ministry  that  disputes 
about  doctrine  and  discipline  have  rarely  occurred.  Harmony 
and  good-will  have  very  generally  prevailed. 

To  select  the  one  hundred  on  Avhom  the  entire  ecclesiastical 
srovernment  was  to  come  was  an  unwelcome  task.  AVeslev  did 
his  own  choosing,  that,  if  any  of  the  hundred  and  ninety-one 
preachers  felt  grieved  at  being  left  out,  they  might  have  the  i>>ii(' 
with  himself  alone,  and  with  none  of  his  survivors.  Some  diil 
feel  grieved  and  annoyed  him  not  a  little  thereafter. 

Some  I oked  on  AVesIey  as  a  despot,  fond  of  power.     This  ad 


Sit  ;( 


WesJei/  and  His  Jnsft(uf>'o)is. 


243 


of  his  shows  his  jrladuoss  at  committing  his  burdoii  1o  faithful 
iiH'ii,  who  shouhl,  in  due  time,  pass  it  to  others. 

lie  saw   the    need    of  1h(^    step  now   taken.     At   Birstal,   the 
tniste<'s  of  the  chapel   insisted  on  choosing  their  own  preacher. 
He  quietly  arranged  for  the  building  of  a  new  chapel  in  another 
part  of  the  town,  giving  the  one  already  there  to  the  malcontents, 
hut  refusing  to  embarrass  his  system  by  so  unsafe  an  example. 
The  trustees  afterwards  yielded  and  the  speck  of  cloud  passed  away. 
The  financial  system  of  Wesley  began  at  Bristol.     There  was 
need  of  money  to  execute  plans  that  forced  themselves  upon  him 
and  every  day  grew  larger.     The  people  were  many,  but  almost 
all  were  poor.     He  connnenced  with  penny  collections,  urging 
and  expecting  everybody  to  pay  that.     At  last,  "a  penny  a  Meek 
and  a  shilling  a  quarter"  became    the  rule.     This   was  for  the 
poorest,  and  none   could  wish  to  be  exemjit.     The  results  of  a 
system  which    seems  at  first  view    insignificant    have   been  im- 
mense.    It  has  enforced  the  duty  and  formed  the  habit  of  giving, 
and,  as  by  Christian  diligence,  sobr'ety  and  jirudence,  AVesleyans 
srrew  rich,  thev  have   proved  themselves  the  most  irenerous  of 
Christian  givers. 

AVe  have  seen,  too,  how  the  official  system  grew  just  as 
naturally  and  noiselessly.  Wesley  was  opposed  to  the  employ- 
ment of  laj'  preachers,  but  what  Wiis  to  be  done  when  thousands 
were  perishing?  No  clergyman  would  come  to  his  help.  He 
had  "to  seek  out  a  man  from  among  themselves.''  His  mother 
said  of  ]Maxfield  :  "  lie  is  as  much  called  of  God  to  preach  as 
you  are."  So  thought  "Wesley.  PLxhortation,  exposition  and 
lM'(Miching  came  on  and  thus  there  was  a  lay  ministry.  But  there 
were  more  societies,  far  more,  than  preachers.  One  of  these 
must  serve  in  many  towns,  and  thus  came  the  itinerancy,  movins: 
ii<»t  at  random,  or  capriciously,  but  as  regulated  from  a  center 
and  in  perfect  harmony. 


HH: 


:t 

Hi;  ^ 

IM  < 

•"wM  • 

t«'UI  1. 

•lain  > 

-il 


'f 


(iF 


!                      ( 
i                !      i 

1  .A 

I  ) 


'tprrrm 


W 


i.     : 
1 

1-      1 

f 

f 

i 

M^ 

{, 
1 

1 

M 

yi 

Li) '' 

244 


77/?  S'fof'/  of  Mi'tJifxUsm. 


From  the  nocd  of  !miuiiil  coiisultalion  and  arr!in<roniont  came 
tlic  ('oni'crciK't' — a  word  almost  limited  to  Metliodism.  The  re- 
'turd  of  tlic  doiuirs  of  llui  C'onforoiR'c  became  tlic  Minutes,  and  the 
revised  Miimtes  gave  the  Discipline,  as  detined  usaiifcs  and 
decisions  <rave  the  British  Constitution.  To  manaj^e  the  finances 
of  the  society,  stewards  were  appointed  ;  circuit  stewards  did 
the  same  for  the  affiliated  societies.  All  the  officers  of  the  circuit 
met  for  its  business  four  times  in  the  year  in  the  Quai'terly 
Meetiuir,  and  several  circuits  formed  a  District  Meetin_<r.  This 
system  was  found  even  more  effective  in  the  wide  regions  ot' 
America  and  Australia,  but  it  still  works  well  in  the  land  of  its 
origin. 

For  the  religious  culture  of  his  peoi)le,  Wesley  made  ample 
provisions.  Indeed,  this  was  the  final  i)urpose  of  all  his  efforts, 
to  build  people  u})  in  holiness.  He  could  at  first  set  his  own  eye 
upon  each  of  his  little  company  every  Thursday  night.  Soon  his 
growing  numbers  were  scattered  over  London  "from  Wapping  to 
"Westminster,"  and  "I  couldnoteasily  see  what  the  behavior  of  each 
person  in  his  own  neighborhood  was."  At  length,  "We  struck  up- 
on a  method  for  which  we  have  had  cause  to  bless  God  ever  since." 
As  was  elsewhere  said,  the  memljers  at  Bristol  grouped  themselves 
into  dozens  to  pay  on  the  chapel  debts.  Wesley  asked  the  leader 
of  each  dozen  to  tell  him  of  the  conduct  of  these  whom  he  was 
thus  seeing  Aveekly.  This  worked  well.  It  was  introduced  at 
London  and  elsewhere.  At  first,  the  leader  called  privately  on 
each  of  his  dozen.  Then  it  was  found  better  that  all  meet  him,  and 
so  sprang  up  a  true  and  cordial  fellowship.  The  moral  advantage 
and  the  financial  convenience  of  the  class  thus  formed  has  l)een 
great.  It  is  not  a  "confessional,"  but  a  free,  loving,  spiritual  con- 
versation, not  always  conducted  in  the  same  manner,  but  always 
for  the  same  end.  In  many  a  ])lace,  it  has  held  and  saved  the  so- 
ciety in  the  absence  of  the  itinerant. 


Wesft't/  and  IIii<  Insfifnfions. 


245 


Wesley  gave  the  ineinhers  of  the  chi.s.se.s  tickets,  wliieh  certitied 
their  menil)ership  (one  given  hy  him  is  at  hand,  aslliis  is  wi'itten). 
h(>ai'ing  a  text  and  sonic  small  engraving.  Theso  were,  each  (jnar- 
ter,  renewed  to  the  faithful,  and  its  rcl'usal  hy  tlu?  preaeher  meant 
dismissal  from  the  society.  It,  during  tlu>  (juarter,  admitted  the 
l)('arer  to  the  fellowshii)  of  anv  societv.     In  ITtlj,  it  was  ruled  to 

1  *■  ft- 

<;ive  "Notes  of  Kemoval""  to  those  migrating  to  other  circuits. 

The  bands  came  from  the  Moravians,  and  were  close  and  more 
contidential  than  the  classes.  They  were  to  ])e  of  meml)t>rs  all 
married  or  all  unmarried,  all  males  or  all  females.  They  proved 
i.ii-Knglisli  and  they  never  grew  in  American  soil.  In  18.3f),  they 
were  struck  from  the  American  Discipline  and  few,  if  any,  survive 
in  England. 

Once  a  quarter  was  the  love-feast,  the  old  apostolic  Agape. 
"Our  food  is  only  a  little  i)lain  cake  and  water,  but  we  scddom 
return  from  them  without  being  fed  with  the  meat  which  endur- 
eth  to  everlasting  life."  To  this  all  the  generations  of  Methodists 
of  every  variety  say  "Amen!" 

Watch-nights,  as  we  saw,  began  at  Kingswood.  The  colliers 
had  long  spent  the  last  night  of  the  year  in  revelry.  As  had  early 
been  done  with  Christmas,  the  riot  was  changed  to  a  Christian 
festival.  Wesley  even  kept  such  a  night  monthly,  at  least  for  a 
while,  "on  the  Friday  nearest  the  full  moon."  The  usage  has 
worn  well,  and  the  silent  prayer  which  bridges  the  years,  with  the 
New  Year's  hymn  that  follows,  are  often  impressive.  The  one  in- 
stitution of  INIethodism  most  endearing  and  universal  is  the  lav 
prayer-meeting.  It  has  been  borrowed  by  most  of  the  evangeli- 
cal Churches  of  the  world.  Well  it  might  be  !  It  brings  out  the 
best  talent  of  the  men  and  women  of  the  Church ;  it  is  made  rich 
with  song  and  sacred  testimony,  and  brings  many  a  soul  to  the 
knowledge  and  love  of  the  Saviour.  It  fell  originally  uj)on  Thurs- 
day evening.      In  many  places  it   is  for  various  reasons  held  on 


lltM  H 

Mtil  t 


illii 

t 

I 

I 


,.:i 


:lll| 

'i;! 


II 


ll:  ill)  i 

ilJjh; 


■     i 

'            1  ^ 
'    t 

'     Ml 


9M\ 


Thr    Sto}')/   of'  Mitliodl 


sin . 


\\'rilin'>ilMy  r\('iiiiiL;.  .'mtl.  in  Amciiciii  Mcllmdisin.  it   i^  (lie  I'Xiicl 
« I'liicr  ol' cIiiiicIiIn   lilt' Mild  (1<'\  (iI  imi. 

'rill'  il  iiKTMin'v  is  Ml'ltT  nil  llic  iiiosi  >iriUiinr  of  (lie  \\'('s!(>v;in 
inslitul  ittiis.  'I'lic  li»trs«' iiiiiihl  ln'  ils  svniltol,  ;is  it  \v:is  on  the  old 
S.'ixon  s1:ind:n<l.  lor  "  ridiiiiiM  rircnil  "  w  :is  (lie  t>!irlicsf  mikI  most  (<\- 
j)rt<ssi\ «' ))lu'.'iM'  tor  tilt'  it  iiitTiinl's  ^t'r\  iff.  llioiir.li  lif  ollfii  wfiil  on 


fool.      \\'f  li:i\ 


('  Sft 


n  tlifin  likf  \\  t'slf  \  m1\\;i\  N  on  llif  nio\ 


'I'l 


It'V 


j>vt>,'i,  hfd  t)t'tfn  loni"  tinifsM  tl;i\  .  I'lif  f irf nils  li;id  fxt'ii  lliirly  ;i|i- 
poiiiluifnls  Tor  llifuionlli,  nnd  no  ni.-in  '-t:iiil  on  llif  sMiiif  finiiil 
inort>  1h;in  two  VfMi's.  vMi'fly  nioff  llijin  tnif.  (.){'  cirfnils.  ;ii 
\\'f>lfv"s  dfiith.  llu'i'f  wk'Vc  in  ;ill  llif  Kini:tlt>ni  oiw  Iinndrfd  jind 
Iwfiilx  .  Mild   llif  niorf  f ircnils.  llif  nit)rf  iiinfi-Miif \  .      ( )t"  nolliin<:- 


\VMs  lit'  more   • 


Iffpl 


sVsltMUMlif     fllMlli:'*' 


y  fon\  iiiffd  lliMn  ot'  llif  lifiiflil  t)t'  fonslMiit. 
''  1  slionld  |)i't'Mfh  niy^flt"  mikI  llif  pfoplc 
Mslft>j).  it'  1  slionld  sImv  in  t>nf  i)lMff  m  VfMr."  "No  t)nt'  whom  I 
f \  t'l  Vfl  kiu'w  li:is  all  ihf  lalfiils  lUM^llnl  Tor  l)fuinninu'.  ft>nliiuiniu' 
iuul  |HM'l\>flini:"  llif  work  ol' i^TMf f  in  onf  ft>n;^rfi:Ml  ion.  NfilluT  1:111 
ho  lind  inMlltT  t'or  ]M'fMfliini:-  f  \  fry  nioniniir  .'ind  fvfnin;^:'.  nttr  will 
llif  ]ifoplf  fonu>  1(^  lu>Mr  liini."  Miu'h  indffd  niMv  h«'  saiil  in  tMvor 
tU'liinf'Mnd  sfttlfd  jiMstorMtfs.  Iml  llio  Mclhotlisls  Mr»»  nt>l  likfly  to 
nlvnulon  llif  iliiuMMiify.  riifst>  liinos  even  show  !inionii"  clhfi' 
C^huvfhfs  ;i  ifiulftuy  to  iVftjntMil  pasltind  fh:iiiir(\ 

^^"f^lfy  w  Ms  hiin^fll'thf  inodcl  lor  his  it  infi'Mnls.  lie  iMn^hl  llieni 
to  iMff  f  \  CIV  liMrdsliipMiid  inMiiMi^f  fVf  ry  ilitlifully.  I"'vfn  rulfstor 
tlifir  Innlily  liMhils  lu^  i:'MVt\  '' miuI  tirst  lif  rt>llowfd  ihfin  hiinsfir."" 
riifsf  rnlfs  wfTf  othMi.  MS  w  t'  niiuhl  ihink.  sfvoi-f .  hiil  iinilf  ms 
olhMi  inlidlif"(Mit  :ind  fXffllfiit.  Tlifv  tonchcd  n|it)ii  fMtinn'Miul 
tlrinkiiif'.  visiiif-  miuI  slffpini:'.  fonvors:itioii  ;nid  m11  dfporlmf iil. 


I'tnu'l 


1    no   I 


Irink.  l(^l>Mfft>   ov 


Sim 


tV, 


unU>s 


a   ii'hi^'^  t'l'  •'tlt>  Ml 


11 


iirlit  at'tfr  pivufhiiii:'.      Tlifsf  nilfs  I'or  thf  irfMlnu'iU  ot'llio  body 
arf  jrotul.  and  vfrv  1'fw  havt^  lu'on  supt 


■rsodfil   l>v  lalfv  sfioiu'C  or 


ox 


per 


U'llff 


H'c-s/ry  iDiil   //is   Inslitutinnf 


247 


Tho  prpjirhcr  wsis  fo  liikc  no  slcj)  in  m!iiTi!i<x<*  willioiil  !i<'(|iiaint- 
iiii;  A\'<'s'n'v  w  illi  IIh'  dcsiun  ;  In  Im-  Msli.'iinctI  ul'  iiolliiii;,^  ImiI  sin  ;  lo 
lie  ti  i.'«'Mll('tn!in  willidiil  iill'rclinir  so  lo  he,  'I'lic  I'ulcs  lor  lu'liiivior 
;ii'<i  sicrn  iind  Hlrinj^cnl  ;  olicdicncc  wonld  lirin^  priwliciil  prrlrc- 
(ion.  In  |trc!icliinL!:,  Iiis  ilincrjinls  were  lo  clioosr  |i|;iin  lexis  iind 
s|i('l<  lo  llicni;  never  lo  eonliniie  )iul)li<'  services  heyond  one  lionr ; 
lo  Hjx'ak  lond  il"  ju'cessaiN  .  Iml  ne\  cr  lo  ser<'jini.  I  le  nri^ed  conslanl, 
lu<ly. 
lo  iirow 


It 


IS  loi-  vonr  hie 


(iiv 


e  v<»nr  son! 


inie    and  in<-aiis 


I^'ive   lioni's   daily  lliey  \ver(^   lo  spend  inslndy.      He 


wasi'veii  proud  of  Ids  men's  atlainnuMil.' 


In  IIk^  one  llnn!^  wldeli 


lliey  proless  to  know,"  lie  eoidd  eoin|)are   llieni    willi   i-andidale.s 
lor  lioly  <»fders,  "even  in  I  lie  I'niversily." 

Tliey  liad  seanly  snp|)oi'l,  and  wlien  lliey  Itecanie  "  snperniinier- 
•iry" — i.  e..  aide  lo  preacli  hut  Iwo  or  lliree  limes  a  week — of  "  sn- 
perannnahMJ"— i,  e.,  nllerly  hroken  ditwn — lliey  ol'len  knew  Hie 
siiireriniis  of  poverly 


TI 


lere    \v 


as   a    rreaelier's    I'^iind    lo    wliieli 


(1 


ilo  ( 'onlc 


.1  11 


caeli  paid  a  i:iiinea  al  enlraiu'e  into  I  onlereiiee,  ana  nail  a  ^fiiinea 
yearly  lliereal'ler.  I-'rom  lliis.  an  iiilirm  man  eoiild  have  leii  pounds 
II  year  and  liis  widow  I'orly  pounds.  l''or  years,  lliey  received  in 
llicir  lal»ors  only  wlial  llie  people  cliose  lo  ^ive  lliein. 

In  1770,  each  was  lo  Imve  annnaliy  sixly  dollars  lor  ]iis  wilt; 
.•ind  Iwciity  lor  eacli  l»oy  under  eiiilil  and  eacli  uirl  iiii(ier  loiirleen, 
hul  money  liad  llien  more  purciiasiiiir  jiower  lliaii  now. 

'riu>  iliiu'ranl  lile  was  severe.  Loss  ol'lieallh  compelled  many  1(; 
loav(>  Ihe  work.  Family  uccmIs  made  many  locale  and  eiilc^i-Imsnu'ss. 
Halt' of"  the  tirst  rac(^  of  preachei-s,"  in  nimiher  two  hundred  and 
eighteen,  were  thus  driven  t'i'om  the  work.  In  Amei'ica,  as  we  t-hall 
se(>,  greater  hardships  caused  excii  greater  losses  ;  half  tlu!  preach- 
ers dying  l)efol•(^  thirty.  Half  of  the  Knglish  preachers  are  put 
down  as  dvini;  "prematureh  ."  Thev  endured  long  walks,  often 
in  the  snows  of  winter.  A\'hatever  the  weather  might  be,  the 
preaclu>r,  like  a  shepherd,  met  his  Hock.     Of  rohbers  they  had 


h 


111. I 


I   *1 


\ 

It 

: 

.1 
■ 

'.'''-■ 

i 

.  1 

. 

.i    1 

•i  ^ 

1 

M 

ji    t 

i  1 

i| 

It 

1 

1 

!  >   .- 

(  ■    » 

i     i                   1  '   i 

.!.'!( 

)        ■      '     '       '■ 

\    ■(*.:: 

■  il 

f;  tlif 

.1 1 

% 

.^Hj 

4 '" 

i    i  111? 

1       ■ 

1         '•'.'■ 

'■      ! 

1        . 

■    it 

h 

;  t   -) :  ^t 

!n 

;      ," 

' '  ;■ 

t 

1    i 

■1 

248 


The  fStoi'ij  of  Methodism, 


!• 


'f^ 


I  li  i  1 


«|f 


Ht 


n 


littli^  fear.     Tli<^  I'dads  were  ol'tni  imsalb  to  other  men,  Imt  liigh- 

wjiytneii  learned  llial  the  i)rea('hers  had  u()tliiii<r  to^Mve  luil  |)niy(!r,s 

and   holy    advices,    tor    which  they  had  little   relish.       Instances 

ar('  •riven  eA'en  of  the  rohlier'sconvefsion.      ^^'esley,  hiinscOt*,  once 

pive  np  liis  ))nrse   with   the   words:    "  Heni<'nil)er,   sir,   that    tho 

lilood  of  Jesns  Christ  cU-anseth  from  all  sin."     The  sacred  text 

touched  the  robber.     II(^  followed  on  to  liear  Wesley  pi'each  next 

day  and,  at  hist,  became  truly  ])enitent.      In  all   the  liardships  o( 

the  preachers,  Wesley  could  say  like  tlu^  Mexican  Emperor  :  "  Am 

I  on  a  bed  of  roses?"     Tie  had  felt  the  same;   he  was  tenderly  in 

sympathy  ■with  them,  and  <j:ave  them  every  possible  aid  by  word 

and  deed.     But  he  could  not  makt^  strai^rht   what  (lod  had  made 

crooked,    and  the   itinerants    shared    the    ajjpolnted    sutlerings — 

"  What  is  behind  of  the  sutl'erinirs  of  Christ "" — for  the   saving  of 

men. 

In  this  sense  of  their  calling  they  were  habitually  joyous. 
They  were  also  always  successful,  and  success  exhilarates.  They 
were  blamed  for  lack  of  '' gravity  and  solemnity."  They  could 
tell  of  adventures  and  of  victories,  and  their  cheerfulness,  often 
rising  into  joy,  made  them  delightful  guests,  as  perhaps  many  a 
reader  of  this  Storv  has  found  them  in  his  own  father's  house. 
One  who  has  read  of  liilly  Ilibbard  or  Peter  CartwTight  can  read- 
ily believe  that  AVesley's  preachers  of  an  earlier  day  might  often 
hold  their  own,  and  more,  in  such  wit  as  came  home  to  the  popu- 
lar mind. 

His  Itinerant  ]\Iinistrv  was  eti'ectuallv  aided  by  his  Loca\ 
Ministry.  These  latter  were  men  of  affairs,  who  preached  at 
niirht  or  on  Sunday  as  there  miirht  be  need.  As  far  as  thev 
were  jireachers  they  came  under  the  "Eules."  ^Nlany  ol  m 
stood  high  in  the  professions,  or  were  men  of  wealth  and  siaiid- 
injr  in  ccmimercc  or  manufactures.  Time  has  not  rendered  this 
Ministry  obsolete-     In  England  and  America,  in  all  regions  of 


Wefth'i/  and  JJis  Institutions, 


24JI 


W4 


.MctliodisiM,  it  lOMtMiiis  ;il»li'  iiiid  ;n'li\c  iiicii  ol"  wide,  g(uu'riil  in- 
iluciirc  iiiid  ill  sonic  places  niiiiiuiiihcriiii:  the  itiiicnmcy. 

'I'lic  Fiiislmry  1  >is|iciisiiry,  in  London,  llic  oldest  existiiiir  iii- 
-litiite  of  iiiedieal  eliarity,  is  piittenieil  nfter  (tne  wliieli  \\'eslev 
tuiiiided  Iwenty  y<!iirs  eiirlier. 

A>  lie  sjiys.  lie  found  niaiiy  sieU  and  too  poor  to  pay  pliysi- 
•  iaiis.      "I  will  prepare  and  L'ive  tliein  pliysie  inysell'." 

lie  had  studied  anatomy  and  medicine  in  liis  "leisure  lioiirs." 
(  W'lieii  did  li(>  liiid  them  r) 

I  le  hud  as  hi'lpers  an  apotlieoiiry  and  a  sur<ro()n.  For  liafd  eases, 
the  patients  were  to  choose  their  physician.  Tho  sick  might 
come  to  AVcslcv,  "  it'  thev  ijh^ascd "" :  he  woidd  do  for  them  tlu 
liest  Ik'  couhl,  whether  tliev  Ixdontred  to  ii  society  or  not.  In 
tive  months,  at  the  expense  of  forty  pounds,  he  tr(!ated  tivo 
liundred,  of  whom  sevcntv-one  were  cured.  This  dis]>ensarv' 
was  connected  with  tlie  Foundry,  where  lu>  had  also  hont(>s  for 
"sick  widows,"  tifteen  or  more  with  whom  he  and  his  preachers 
ate  "the  sumo  food  at  the  same  tal lie,  an  earnest  of  eating  bread 
together  in  our  Fatlier's  Kingdom  !  " 

Lastly,  he  created  a  Loan  Fund  for  the  industrious  i)oor, 
many  of  M'honi  in  their  small  affairs  often  sondy  needed  a  little 
nadv  money.     lie    l)ei:an    with    fifty   pounds.     In    a    year,  this 

I  »/  ~  •-'1  »  ^ 

niinhle  capital,  managed  l»y  two  judicious  stewards,  loaned  in 
iiinounts  of  tive  to  tw(Mity-tive  dollars  for  thrise  months,  had 
aided  two  hundred  and  fifty  i)ersons. 

Xear  his  death,  Wesley  and  ("larke  founded  at  liristol  a 
-'traiigers'  Society  for  the  poor,  sick  and  friendless  from  abroad, 
^oon  in  eyery  town  there  was  an  orirani/.ation  to  seek  out  and 
relieve  the  victims  of  jjovcrt}',  disease  and  vice,  "  not  members 
of  our  society." 

"  By  their  fruits  ye  shall  know  them."  AVe  saw  ^Methodism 
Iicginni       Ity  calliiiir  men  to  l)e   reconciled    to  (Jod.     After  fifty 


■\' 


M'lK 

11. 1 


;i 


Ml' 


'Itii 


■;\ 


Ii 
lit 

•iul 


;•! 


'(■'!■' 

i' 

t  4; 


A'-: 


t.  .' 


250 


The  SfoDj  of  Method ittin. 


years,  wo  find  it  ininistorinir  r,.li,.f  to  ovory  form  of  human 
sorrow  and  disfross,  "  doing  <ro()d,  us  far  as  in  our  i)o\vor,  to  the 
hodii.'s  and  souls  of  men." 


HEALEY  (»\   nil.;  aTIII.om;  t  lurt  IT. 


f  !i 


'  m 


11! 


"     :'i 


:  i 


CHAPTER   XTX. 

UdHcnfion  iDxl  Litpraturi'  at    Wenleifti   iJcatli. 

E  liavci  scon  how  Methodism  hciran  at  tho 
top  of  society.  Ludv  lluiitinirdoii,  the 
Wesleys  and  their  early  associates  wore 
of  tho  exeollent  of  the  hmd.  They  set 
to  themselves  the  task  of  raisinjr  the  En- 
glish people  to  a  footinir  in  religion  and 
iiitelligeneo  like  their  own.  It  was  not  long, 
and  could  not  ])e,  1)efor(^  those  men  of  the  I'ni- 
vorsity  should  begin  the  work  of  education. 
In  tho  year  of  the  tirst  Hold  preaching,  and  among  the  colliers 
of  Kingswood,  to  whom  tho  tirst  open-air  sermon  was  spoken, 
Whitetield  laid  the  coi-ner-stono  of  the  tirst  st-hool,  and  knelt 
to  j)ray  that  the  gates  of  hell  might  not  })rovail  against  it. 
AVosley  went  on  an<l  l)nill  it.  Lady  Maxwell,  of  Scottish  nobili- 
ty, grateful  i'or  the  const)lations  which  Methodism  brought  her 
in  her  soi-e  grief  at  tho  loss  of  her  husband  and  child,  and 
devoting  herself  and  lu'r  fortune  to  Gospel  uses,  lotting  the  dead 
past  cover  its  dead,  gave  him  eight  hundred  pounds  to  coni])leto 
the  school.  ^^'eslev  c(iuipi)»'d  it  with  six  teachoi's,  ai\d  its 
course  of  instruction  was  thorough.  Ilei'o  came  young  Adam 
Clarke,  and  his  lively  narrative  of  his  own  experiences  there 
shows  its  regimen  sutliciontly  severe.  In  tact,  tlu^  lady  in  chargo 
miirht  have  served  as  the  original  of  Mrs.  S(iuoers  !     The'  school 


!::  It 


» ' . 


.|! 


'm\ 


ii 


Ai\' 


•j',2 


The  ><tori/  of  JIefhodis/>i. 


v«»X('(l  and  burdciKMl   Woslcv,   vet    it    was  a    tail" 


nit'ce 


.SS,    ( 


hicfli 


'I 


ft    ! 


ii 


f.. 


as  a  x'lniiiai'v  tor  i^'caclicrs.  After  his  dcalli  it  was  liivcii  to 
tilt'  ('ducat ion  ol'  jd'caclicrs"  sons.  Soon  it  iiad  to  Ix-  sn))])l('nu'nt- 
cd  hy  a  like  sclio(»I  near  Leeds.  It  was  then  removed  to  a 
])laee  near  IJath.  In  tliese  two  schools  the  sons  of  j)i'eachers 
still  receive,  without  diarire,  for  six  years,  tuition,  Ixjard  and 
clothinir. 

At  Newcasth'.  Wesley  early  foun(h'd  an  ()r))han  House,  and 
provided  hv  dcc(i  lop  the  maintenance  of  forty  children,  with 
master  and  niisti'css.  To-day.  more  than  four  hundred  children 
aretaujrht  within  its  walls. 

It  L^'ive  \\'e>ley  "  i;i'eat  concern."  in  London,  that  ahundance 
of  ehildreti  whom  theii"  ])arents  could  not  alford  to  send  to  school 
"remained  like  the  wild  ass  colt."  Those  who  went  to  school 
learned,  with  readinu*  and  writini:'.  "all  kinds  of  vice."  Hi'  de- 
termined to  have  them  tauiiht  in  his  own  house,  "without  also 
learniui:"  heathenism."  He  soon  had  sixty  children  ;  the  parents 
of  some  i)aid  for  schoolini:';  tlu^  irreater  i)art,  "heiuir  very  jxior." 
came  free.  All  who  needed  it  were  supplied  with  clothiuii'.  The 
results  were  most  irratifyinir.  Tiie  children  learned  th(^  connnon 
hranches.  "the  three  ITs."  swiftly,  their  temper  and  hehavioi-  im- 


1 


)ro^■e( 


1,  and  thev  learned  "to  fear   (Jod  and    work  out   their  own 


!^a 


Ivat 


ion. 


A\'e>ley  eai'ly  felt  the  need  of  a  th(><)loirical  st-hool  and,  in  1744. 
ho  ])rop()sed  to  found  one.  Funds  could  I'ot  he  had  and  he  post- 
poned it — for  a  life-time — makinir  the  Ivinirswood  school  do  some 
>ervice.  A^'e  >hall  see  elsewhere  tiie  j)reseiit  educational  work 
of  Methodi>m. 

The  tirst  trace  of  Sunday-schools  is  tound  at  \Vycoml»e.  where, 
in  17(!!i.  Ilaimah  l\n\\.  a  Methodist  eirl.  opened  <»ne  for  the  traiii- 
iuij-  of  children  i:i  Scrii)ture.  Twelve  years  later.  Mi's.  lii'adhurn 
(whose  husltand  was  the  "  Deinostlu'nes  of  Methodism")  was  con- 


>(       i. 


Edticafinii  uiitl  J^iftrdture  at    ]\'>;slc//'s  Jjcaf/t. 


>53 


versing  at  (iloucostor  with  Itolx-rt  Raikcs.  jmldislicr  (I"  tlio 
( iJd-ncf'sfer  JniiriKil.  "\\\\n\  can  we  (1(^  tor  llicni?"  a.-ixcd  he, 
liointing  to  irronps  of  street  Arahs — ehiUlren,  jjoor.  neuh't'ted  and 
ih'praved.     "Let    us   teach    them    to    read,    and    take    thi-ni    to 


IIMMi 


'» 


■f    :i 


up 


\h.\ 


'!' 


KullKUr   KAIKI.S. 


rhiirch,"'  said  she.  No  time  was  h)st .  Soon  Kohert  Kaikes  and 
S()])hia  Cooke  were  leadinir  to  church  the  van  ot"  the  "  Snnday- 
srliool  Army.""  a  rauiicd  train.  \v(dl  Jeered  l»y  the  u'aziuii'  crowd, 
but  a  yision  dear  to  overhaniring  anirels.      Ifohei-t  and  Sdphia  did 


;il 


.,  ! 


1     1 


il 


t    i 


li 


^»^ 


■  h 


I  m 


'    fi 


254 


T/te  Stortf  of  Methodism. 


thoir  work  modostly.  They  little  knew  that  they  were  introduc- 
in<r  tho  (lospcl  u<;('iu'v,  the  most  ctliH'tlvo.  next  to  the  pulpit,  ot' 
our  iiiodcrn  limes.  Late  in  ITSlI,  K'aikcs  sjioko  of  tho  school  in 
his  ,Iourn:il,  and  in  17<S4  jraAt;  his  ))lan  in  full.  Wesley  saw  it, 
and  n'puldished  it  with  ai)proval  in  his  Arniinian  Magazine.  Ilis 
"hard-woiking  men  and  women  took  his  adviee."  Soon,  Fletcher, 
at  ^ladelev,  had  thr<'(;  hundred  childnMi  in  one  school  and  was 
planninir  for  six.  He  was  also  thinkinir  of  small  j)u1)lications  for 
their  use.  AVesley  found  them  "spriiiirinii;  up  wherever  I  <ro  ; 
perhaps  (rod  may  have  a  deeper  end  therein  than  men  are  aware 
of." 

Rowland  Hill  open<>d  the  tirst  one  at  London  in  17S«),  the  year 
of  Ashury's  oi)eninjr  the  tirst  on(^  in  the  Ignited  States.  AVithin 
two  or  three  years,  A^'esley  found  schools  of  seven  or  eight  hun- 
dreds of  children,  and  wrote  from  what  he  saw  of  their  intluence  : 
"This  is  one  of  the  best  institutions  which  has  been  seen  in  Eurojie 
for  somi^  centuries."  In  17!l4,  Sunday-schools  were  introdmcd 
among  the  ^lethodists  of  Ireland. 

The  literatui-e  of  ^lethodism  at  A^'esley's  death  consisted  chielly 
of  his  own  sermons  and  of  Charles'  hymns.  Of  the  sermons,  puh- 
lished  partly  as  tracts  and  partly  as  l»ound  volumes,  w<'  llnd  a 
hundred  and  forty-one.  The  tirst  series  of  liti  --three,  appeariiiL' 
in  1771,  is  named — together  with  his  Notes  on  the  New  Testament 
— as  the  standard  of  theology  from  which  any  departure  is  to  woik 
a  forfeiture  in  the  trust  deeds  i>f  tho  chapels  and  other  legal  proj)- 
erties.  Manv  of  th(>  s(M'mons  are  of  <rreat  merit.  One  miurht  sav 
Wesley  had  little  time  to  1)e  eloquent.  Many  of  them,  as  flint  he- 
fore  the  rni\»'rsity  of  Oxford  at  the  time  of  his  last  recognition 
there,  and  that  on  Fi-ee  (Irace.  o  which  was  due  tlu^  separation 
from  him  of  A\'hitetield  and  La(h'  Iluntiiiirdon,  are  of  permanent 

»  ~  '  1 

interest  and  value. 

His  X()t<'s  on  the  Ni'w  Testament  show  a  careful  studv  of  lien- 


EiluratifHt  (Dit/   Lifpfdlid'P  at    WesJeifs  iJfoth. 


,).) 


fji-rs  CTiiomoii.  as  well  as  irroat  acutcncss  of  translation.  In  tact, 
llu'V  Jjfivo  a  JK'W  V('r>ion.  to  which  the  revisers  of  our  day  seem 
ically  in(h'l)te(l,  lie  jrave  these  his  hist  touches  in  1  T-SS,  liavin*; 
IpciTun  tlieni  in  17r)4.  Meamvhik',  however,  several  editions  had 
.ippeared,  and  had  ifone  far  and  wide  in  the  saddh'-hairs  of  the 
preachei's.  He  had  also  made  \ot<'s  on  the  Old  Testament,  which 
were  grievously  al)rid«red,  for  mechanical  reasons,  hy  tiie  printer, 
and  Wesley  could  never  iret  time  to  restore  them. 

The  Journal  is  the  most  entertaininir  work  of  its  century.  It 
runs  from  his  departure  forCieorgia  in  ITIif)  to  near  his  death — to 
171*0.  It  was  an  eventful  half-century,  and  its  historian  can  tind 
its  men  and  <'vents  well  i)ut  in  the  Journal  as  they  wore  seen  by  a 
clear-eyed  ItehohU'r.  We  tind  Wesley's  own  travels,  studies, 
jilans  and  elfoi'ts,  and,  beyond  that,  all  the  stir  of  a  keen  and  rest- 
less mind.  Ih'  criticizes  Ixtoks,  old  and  new.  philosophers,  states- 
men and  theologians.  As  he  travels,  not  a  featui'c  of  the  coun- 
try escaix's  him.  and  natural  scenery  is  set  forth  with  a  lively 
appreciation.  The  Journal  bears  many  times  ri'ading,  and  from 
it  all  accounts  of  Methodism  must  chielly  be  taken. 

He  made  a  Ilistoi-y  of  England  and  one  of  the  Church,  each  in 
four  vohunes,  and  a  ( 'ompendium  of  Natural  I*hilosoj)hy  in  five 
vdhunes.  For  his  sihool  he  ]»repared  grannuars  of  Knglish,  l^atin, 
(iret'k,  French  and  Hebrew,  editions  of  th"  ( "lassies,  a  History 
of  Rome,  treatises  on  Logic  and  Hhetoric.  and  an  Knglish  Diction- 
ary :  of  all  which  it  may  be  said  that  he  took  from  the  studies 
many  a  clog,  and  gave  them  the  ])ractical.  etl'ective  character  which 
our  day  so  appreciates.  In  1711',  he  began  to  publish  his ''Chris- 
tian Library  ■"  of  the  choicest  works  of  ])ractical  divinity.  Ry 
17.').").  he  had  i)ut  forth  tiftv  volumes.      Seventv  vears  later,  it  was 

1  •  %      \ 

republished  in  thirty  volumes. 

In  1778,  he  published  the  first  number  of  the  Arminian  Maga- 
zine, the  tii-st    periodical  of  its  class   in   the    Protestant    world,   a 


( , 


,■■■'» 

\<- 

ii^  1 

!   llii 

\  ' 

\\ 

.  JUlJiLIf': 

\\ 

IHT" 

' 

•^it 


JIF    !^ 


1  ''ti 


i    i 


I 

I"  i 

i 

I  (■ . 


fl 


\l 


si' 


!\  i  }'<  '■ 


Si 


i: 


rl    i 


!f 


!  1 


2r)«i 


'/'/"•    SInrij   (if  MflliDil Ism. 


class  now  so  nuiiieidiis.  Hcsidcs  tliooloiiical  rt-vicws  and  disous- 
sioiis,  it  i:a\(.'  i*'liirioiis  literature  and  ijcneral  intellipMicc  Eucli 
iiuinlKM-  had  a  portrait  ol"  some  preaeliei*  or  ial»orer.  and  the  vahie 
ot"  its  vearlv  voUinies  to  the  history  of  Methodism  is  verv  irreat. 

These  many  pnldieations  hrouglit  Wesley  to  have  a  l>o(»kstore 
and  a  printinu-honse  ot"  his  own.  "Two  and  lorty  years  ajio,  hav- 
in<j^  a  desii'e  to  furnish  i)oor  pe()|)le  with  eheajjer.  shorter  and 
plaint'i'  l»ooks  than  any  I  had  seen,  1  wrote  many  small  traets,  <ren- 
erally  a  peimy  ajjieee  ;  and  then  several  larger.  S(tme  of  the>e 
had  sueh  a  sale  as  I  never  thouirht  ot",  and  l»y  this  means  I  unawares 
became  rich."'  All  his  irains  he  invested  in  his  useful  enterprises, 
and  of  iiersonal  funds  ho  left  at  death  only  tiftv  dollars  for  his 
funeral  ex}»cnses. 

AN'hat  a  f<v(H\  lied  we  tind  in  his  Ah'thodism  !  From  his  jiross 
and  sales  room  at  the  Foundry  havi'  come  not  only  the  modeiii 
"  liook  ("oncerns,"  one  of  the  teiins  p«M'uliar  to  Methodists' 
Houses  of  Fuhlieation  and  Sales,  hut  also  the  Tract  Houses  of 
the  Fiotestant  world.  Ilis  Tract  Soeietv.  founded  in  17><2,  seat- 
tcred  his  leaves  like  autumn  foliaiie  over  the  I'nited  Kin«r<lom. 
The  sum  of  \\'eslev's  literary  iiroduetions  is  immense.  Wadinu 
through  the  h'arned  works  of  his  time,  he  reduet'd  their  massive 
hulk  to  pocket  volumes  to  instruct  and  entertain  the  i)oor.  A 
novel,  "Henry,  Karl  of  Moreland,"  of  his  writing,  for  this  same 
ohjeet,  Kingsley  has  reproduced.  A\'e  might  count  of  his  ])ro>e 
works,  origii»al  and  ahridgments,  at  least  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
eight  :  of  poetical  works  in  conjunction  with  Charles,  sixty-one 
and  of  musical  works,  tive.  These  two  hundred  and  thirtv-four 
works  were  by  a  man  who  conducted  a  vast  correspondence,  who 
preachetl  for  a  life-time  an  average  of  litteen  st>rmonsa  week,  who 
traveh'd  tin'  circumtenMice  (»f  oui*  planet  every  six  years,  besides 
that  which  came  upon  him  daily,  the  care  of  all  the  Churches. 
AVhen  at  d  where  was  such  another  man  born? 


J^ducuiion  and  Literature  at   Wes/e/s  Death. 


■u 


It  is  well  to  iioto  how  his  prciuhinur  mach^  ii  market  for  his  books 
and  those  of  other  men.  The  moral  awakeiiiiiir  under  the  l)hist  of 
his  trumpet  hroui^lit  on  inteili'ctual  awakeninj;.  Wlu»r«'  popula- 
tion was  in  its  worst  shape,  the  Methodists  aroused  the  people  to 
think  l»()tli  of  the  life  that  now  is  and  of  that  whieh  is  to  eome,  and 
tiie  >uU  of  the  miners,  as  dark  as  tluMr  mines,  wert^  l)ri<rhtened 
with  liirht  and  inspired  with  lonjiinirs  for  knowledi;e.  Franklin 
t'ouml  no  eireulatiuir  library,  even  in  London,  in  1725.  Twelve 
years  after  Wesley  Ix'iran  to  ))rea('h,  the  hunu:«'r  for  books  outran 
the  ability  to  buy,  and  such  a  libraiy  was  started.  All  over  the 
Ivinirdom,  from  Whitby  in  the  northeast  to  Cornwall  in  the  south- 
west, Wesley's  preachiny'  aroused,  and  his  publications  supplied, 
the  tirst  demand  for  readiuir.  Durinjr  hi"^  ministry,  newspapers  in 
Enirland  doubled  their  circulation.  AVhen  he  had  preached  thirty 
years,  the  tirst  i)oi)ular  meetin<;  for  political  discussion  was  held. 
The  jrreat  market  for  literary  work  bejjran  to  open.  In  a  word, 
the  public  entered  ui)on  a  larijfe  intellectual  life.  It  is  true  that 
succession  of  events  does  not  prove  causation,  but  it  i.sditlicult  not 
to  think  that  Wesley's  labors  <j;ave  ener<ry  and  guidanci!  to  the 
En<rli>h  minds. 

The  tirst  hymn  book  of  the  Wesleys  was  issued  in  17;i.S.  Be- 
fore them  were  Tate  and  the  like,  most  of  whose  shabby  work  has 
vanished.  ^Nlilton  had  uttered  a  few  majestic,  oriran-lik«»  sonjjs,  and 
that  was  all  our  lanufuaire  had  wIumi  Watts  appeared.  He  was  the 
true  leader  in  hynm  writinir,  a  ul  this  tirst  Weslevan  collection  was 
lari:<'ly  made  uj)  of  his  compositions.  Many  will  still  prefer  his 
hynms  to  those  of  Wesley,  thoujih  he  himself  did  not.  "I  would 
liive  all  I  have  written  to  have  JM'en  the  author  of  'Wrestlini; 
.bicob*.  ('('onu',  ()  Thou  Traveler  uidvuown  ! 'V  We  saw  how 
wiinidv  the  aire*!  baid  irre«>tt*d  the  vouiij;  (liristian  minstrel,  and 
was  glad  to  see  his  <lay.  Xo  thou<rht  of  rivalry  ever  stirred  either 
noble  heart.     The  genius  of  Charles  Wesley  was  the  more  hope- 


If: 


k 

.h  1 

Ml 


% 


i'ih 


.1  i\ 


I'    1 


\i 


1  '     ! 


258 


TJie  Start/  of  M  ft  hod  Ism. 


■^f 


fill,  warm  and  vigorous,  striking''  the  i)()j)iilar  tasto  and  voicing 
the  popular  fcdinirs.  lie  wr(»l('  more  tiian  .seven  thousand  saered 
poems.  .*>ome  are  linely  wrou^dit  and  not  familiar  to  the  piihlic 
ear.  No  writer  evei'  used  such  a  variety  of  nieteis — twenty-six 
in  on<'  hymn  Ixiok — and  into  these  flow  "all  passions  in  our  frames 
of  clay."  Everythinir  human,  all  phases  of  eonnnon  and  C'hristian 
ex])(;rienee  :  evervthiuiT  that  an  overfull  heai't  mi;rht  at  anv  time 
wish  to  say  is  t'ound  in  his  easy,  various  and  abundant  utteranee. 
His  livmns  "took"  with  the  eonverts,  and  they  eould  never  sin<r 
them  loud  enouirh  or  lonir  enouirh.  dohn  was  to  Charles  a  faith- 
ful eritie,  as  if  aware  th.-it  these  hynm.s  were  to  serve  as  a  lituriry 
for  lands  and  ages.  He  could  himself  write,  but  criticism  and 
emendation  and  translation  were  his  true  task. 

The  ^^'eslevan  hymns  also  called  out  the  best  work  of  other 
poets,  and  gave  new  richness  and  jjower  to  sacred  song.  To  this 
day.  they  keep  out  cheap  ballad  and  doggerel  from  popular  services, 
and  a  new  hymn  must  have  real  merit,  if  it  is  to  be  used,  or  even 
heard,  by  people  trained  to  tlu'  Weslevan  standard.  The  Method- 
ist hymns  are  sung  by  "peoi)le  aiul  lands  of  every  tongue."  The 
missionary's  first  task  next  to  translating  Scripture  is  to  fill  car 
and  voice  with  the  sweet  and  simple  songs  that  tell  the  Crospcl  so 
truly  and  tenderly.  Wesley  urged  the  people  to  siug,  and  their 
swelling  voices,  with  his  ra))turous  words,  made  necessary  the 
hiirhest  forms  of  comi)osition  known  to  the  art  of  music,  irandcl. 
the  greatest  composer  then  living,  ))ut  forth  the  utmost  of  lii> 
genius  in  framing  tunes  worthy  to  be  "married  to  the  immortal 
verse." 

What  are  th(>  doctrines  of  Methodism?  "Our  main  doctrines 
are  rei)entance,  faith  and  holiness,  for  these  include  all  the  rcsi. 
The  first  of  these  we  account,  as  it  were,  the  porch  of  religion: 
the  next,  the  door:  the  third,  ivligion  itself."  In  the  experiences 
of  the  great  salvation,  Wesley  noted  three  things  to  be  distin- 


m  H 


Eilid'ufinii  mill    IJti  ratiiri'  nf     U's'/r'/'s   l)((ith. 


•i.^D 


•niislu'd.  '/iisfifii'dfinii  is  a  work  iloiic  lop  us  Itv  which  ihr  rcc- 
oi'fl  iiiiaiusl  us  is  cleared  on  liinii,  aud  \vc  ai"c  llicic  for  Clii-isl's 
-akc  counted  no  loUiTor  iruilt  v.  Jfi'i/i-nmrfinii  is  the  coiTcsiiondini; 
woi'k  done  in  us,  wherelty  we  Ix'coine  conscious  ol"  tiie  divine 
I'avoi'  and  enter  into  loving",  joyous  tellowshii)  with  (hmI.  Sintcfi- 
liciifinti  is  tlie  cU'ansin<r  of  the  afl'ect ions,  so  that  we  love  (iod  with 
them  wholly  and  do  not  love  sin  at  all.  This  is  called  INM-fectUJU, 
•'  plain  matter,  seeiuir  it   is  the  utmost  of  the  divine  workin<jc  in 


the  soul,   for   love  caimot    I 


)e   inor 


e   than   love.     Still,  the   won 


I 


"  I'ei'feetion  "  is  not  pleasant  to  all.  This  perfi'ctiiiir  of  the  work 
may  l>e  tri'adual  or  instantaneous.  Faith  is  the  soul's  own  indi- 
vidual irrasp  on  the  merit  of  the  Saviour,  and  the  witness  of  tiio 
Spirit  is  the  felt,  inward  assurance,  brought  from  iu'aven  l>v  the 
Holy  (iiiost  and  revealed  in  the  heart,  of  actual  ])ardon.  Tiiese 
are  all  the  i)ositive  doctrines  of  the  svstem.  lievond  theses  it 
nu'rgc's  in  ireneral  Protestantism,  and  even  these  are  hut  restate- 
ments of  the  teachings  of  the  highest  standards  of  the  theological 
world.  It  was  the  clearness,  force  and  earnestness  of  this  re- 
statement that  gave  ^lethodism  its  doctrinal  success. 

Such  was  Methodism  at  the  death  )f  Wesley.  All  its  branches 
have  preserved  the  original  family  features.  Keasons  for  separate 
organizations  have  now  and  then  arisen,  but  their  likeness,  not 
wholly  kept  nor  wholly  broken,  is  such  as  ought  to  abide  among 
sisters. 


17 


W 


'111 


1      I 

! 

1-  t 

?«i. 


.w  .«■ 


i(i 


I 


I 


t'     I 


Ntlji. 


Til" "    4>.v^''^  -  •  ,*- 


CFIAI^TKIJ  XX. 

J/<'//ti)(iisiii  l-Jntcrs  Fniiin', 

HK  spivjul  of  iMcthodisiii  l:i'y(iiiil 
-  Kiiiiljiiid  was  ol'li'ii  iVoiii  IK) 
tonuiil  intention,  but  iVon' 
sonu'  easy  and  natural  iiici- 
^4  (lent.  A\'o  .saw  how  it  went 
to  tho  West  Indies  l>y  a  ])lanter 
from  AntiiTua  and  liis  two 
slaves,  whom  AVesh'V  met  as 
they  Mi're  stayinir  in  Enirland. 
These   had  jrathered   in   their 


island  lifteen  hundred  memlnM's,  before  a  preaehei-  eame. 

After  like  maimer,  it  went  to  the  Chaimel  Islands  to  reach  tiieir 
people,  and  so  to  all  islands  of  tlu^  British  seas.     A  native  of  the 
Isle  of  Man,   removing  to  Liverjiool,  heeamo  a  Methodist.     He 
remembered  his  own  iK'ople  and  entreated  John  Ci'ook,  a  preacher, 
to  visit  them.      C^'ook  went  and  jjassed  the  old  ordeal  of  mobs 
with  theii-  violence,   and  tlu^  clerii'v  with  their  exclusions.     The 
work  spread.     Wesley  went  and  i)reached  to  wondering,  listenini;- 
crowds.     At  a  later  day,  he  found  all  opposition  vanished.     Twen- 
ty-two local  preachers  met  him.     "I   never  saw  so  many  stout, 
well-looking  preachers  together."      He  found   that  never  yet   ii 
any  connnunity  had  his  j)reachers  met  such  success.     "  ^^'hat  h;i,' 
l)een  seen  like  this?"     Fifty  years  after  ("rook's  coming,  the  islanc 
had  ones  Methodist   in  lifteen  of  its  population,  and  its  materia" 
tlxtures  were  I'xcollcnt. 


Methodmn  Enters  France. 


261 


Tho  Xorniiin  ishiiulcrs  spoke  no  KM^li>h,  smd  tlicir  roliirion  nnd 
iiiiii'iility  uiTc  of  low  (Ic^xrcr.      Lc  Siiciir.  a  .Icrscyiuan,  wont  ovci' 
the  oc'ciin  to  trade  in  Ai'wtoimdland.     'I'Iut*^  lie  heard  a  ^lelliodist 
])i'eaelief,  and  ivtunied  to  .Jersey  in  a  luiiid  wliu-li  liis  neiirlil><>rs 
and  even  liis  wife  counted  niadness.     Fentin,  a  Newfoundland  eon- 
vert,  eimu!  to  his  hrlp.     Le  Sueui',  after  l()n<jr  sti'uiru'le,  found  peaee, 
!i>  did  also  his  wife.     Soon  twelve  others  were  with  them  and  a  new 
lite  l»e;j:an   in  the  island.      Lc;  Sueur  heiran  to  preaeh  in  French. 
A  pious  sea-captain  came,  then  a  reuinient  of  which  some  soldiers 
were  Capt.  AVel)l)'s  converts.     These  wrote  for  a  ])reacher  wiio 
coidd  speak  hoth  Hnglish  and  F'rench ;  "then  the  Gospel  would 
siiino  over  the  islands."     IJrackenhury,  author  of  "My  son  know 
thou  the  Lord  !"  a  wealthy  layman,  master  of  both  tongues,  went 
to  preach  to  them.     Ills  servant,  Kilham,  was  able  to  preach  in 
his  master's  dlncss  or  Jibsence.     He  at  length  became  founder  of 
the  "New  Connection"  Methodists.     Here  in  Jersev,  Adam  Clarke 
then  took  his  baptism  of  the  storms.     He  was  pulled  from  his 
pulpit ;  his  life  was  endangered.     His  sermon  in  French,  when 
oiuhr  was  restored,  is  a  mastei'ly  appeal.      His  foes  became  his 
warmest  friends,  and  societies  were  formed  all  over  the  island. 
Arrive  had  conui  from  (luernsey  to  Jersey  to  remonstrate  with 
his  two  sisters  for  becoming  Methodists;  he  went  home  a  ^leth- 
odist  hiinsclt".      De  (^uetteville,  whose  French  hynms  are  yet  sung 
in  the  islands,  followed  him,  and  after  nnich  tribulation  he  planted 
Methodism  in  (iuernsey.     Then  Adam  Clarke  went  to  Alderney. 
\(tt  a  person  did  he  know  ;  he  was  like  one  on  a  new  planet. 
Stopping  from  some  inward  impulse  at  a  poor  cottage,  he  was 
met  like  an  expected  guest,  and,  when  they  learned  his  errand, 
they  gave  him  the  house  and  gathered  him  a  congregation.     After 
somion,  as  he  was  resting,  he  was  called  to  jireach  to  a  new  gath- 
ering, and  for  three  days  he  was  under  invitations  and  constantly 
pioaehinff.     "We  wish  vou  would  iro  back  no  more,"  thev  ten- 


• 

i 

'1! 

<>, 


II 


I'll  I 


'*! 


1*1 


!      I  **' 


i\ 


I 


1  ■ 
i    I 


n 


262 


T/if'  Sfor>/  of  ^letJiodlioii. 


(Icrly  siiid  .-il  his  l('a\  iii«i.  Tlius  (|iii('tly  raiiio  Alctliodisiii  into 
Aldcnicy.  W'cslcv  thru  ciimc  lo  the  islands.  A  furious  storm 
nearly  wrct'kcd  11.:'  vessel.  LeaniinL'"  its  daiii.''<'r,  "  \N'e  cried  miirlit  i- 
ly  unfo  the  Lord  and  He  heard  us."  He  lahored  two  weeks  in 
.Vlderney  Avith  lull,  youthl'id  zeal,  and  in  the  othei*  islands  he  ic 
(cived  every  attention.  Thus  the  islands  wei"e  added  to  tin- 
domain  of  tho  revival,  and  nowhere  have  the  results  been  more 
'.'"ratifying. 

AVesley  valued  the.se  Freneh  soeieties  all  the  more,  for  he  :im(1 
lu8  eye  upon  France,  and  tln'so  wei'e  outposts  ami  points  o'  de- 
parturc.  Tho  Protestants  of  the  fair  land  soi-ely  needed  a  renewal. 
Popery  and  iuHdelily  eouHned  and  weakened  them,  aiu'i  deatli 
among  them  seemed  stronirer  than  life.  In  17!tO,  De  (^uetti^ville 
went  over  to  Normandy  and  ])reached  in  many  villaiics.  I))-. 
Coke  also  went  over,  and  at  Courcello  ordained  iVfahy,  a  local 
[)reaclier  from  Guei'usey,  the  first  Afethodist  ordained  in  Kuropc. 

Coke  hired  ii  i)reaehing-place  in  Paris  and  De  (^uetteville  ))rea(  li- 
ed tlu^  Hrst  Methodist  sermon  in  the  thcMi  stormy  cai)ital  of  France 

^Tahv,  after  nnich  success  down  the  west  coast,  where  Catholic^ 
and  Protestants  both  sou<;ht  the  solace  of  his  word  in  these  hitter 
times,  fell  upon  tierci;  persecutions,  health  and  brain  gave  way,  ami 
these  evangelists  fi-om  the  islands  had  to  return  home.  Anioiiir 
th(^  French  refugees  on  Knglish  soil  was  a  Catholic  nobleman,  Dc 
Pontavice.  lie  betame  u  ])reacher  and,  returning  to  Fiance  in 
1X02,  was  most  jrladlv  welcomed  hv  tho  societies  gathered  under 
Mahy.  After  tluj  original  Wesleyan  i)olicy  of  a  litth;  Church.  ;is 
a  reviving  oenter  within  a  largo  one,  this  man  joined  the  French 
Protestant  Church,  tho  Church  that  had  given  to  tho  faith  iiKin' 
martyrs  than  any  other  in  Europe,  but  which  was  now,  undti- 
Napoleon  and  tho  Atheistic  fury,  in  weakness  and  decay. 

It  was,  however,  the  dnirch  whoso  do])uties  had  well   said  to 
a  persecutmg  King:    "Hemember  that  the  Church  of  Cod   is  mi 


f '  ! 


I 


Jfcf/Hiilistn  h'nfci's  Fnnm 


203 


iinvil  on  which  niaiiy  a  hammer  has  |)()im(l('<l  ilsclf  to  pipccs  I" 
l)i'  l'(iiita\  ice  ma(h>  (h-t-p  iiii|ir<'s>i(iiis  mi  his  ('(niiitrymcii,  and 
ill  Ills  ti'ium)ihaiit  th-alh  he  uructl  flic  socictio  that  he  had  n'st'iu'd 


iVom  th(^    tidc^   <»t'  iiiiiiodliiK' 


tl 


M'li   rumiiiiir   sli'oiio;   in    Fi-aiu'i 


iiyiuL' :  "Only  he  t'aitht'iil  ami  all  will  he  well." 
It   mav  Ii('i'(^  l>i!  said,  ihonjrh  in  adNaiicc  (»t'  oiir  Stot'V,  tliat  i\ 


lO 


next  approach  of  ^[i'lhodism  to  France  was  thron;jfh  the  prisoiuM'.s 


of  war.  loase,  a  prt-acher  who  went  amoji^"  these  poor  men  on 
KiiLdish  ships,  did  his  work  with  a  j)erniit  from  the  irovernment, 
()htain«'d  )>y  Hnlterworlli,  a  hiyman,  hrothei-in-law  of  A(him 
Clarke,  and  memlier  of  Parliament .  'I'Ih*  pool*  ])ris<)ners  heard  him 
jrl.idly  and  he  softened  llu^  rigors  of  their  fate  on  the  "cold,  cruel 
side  of  war."'     He  furnished  li))raries  and  tracts,  comforted  tin' 


SK 


k  and  dvinir.  and  the  converts  amonjj:  them  took  home  tlu' 


llihles  at  the  return  of  peace.  "Peace  ))»'  with  you  I"  was  Toasir.s 
lii>t  text  to  them.  "Wm  found  us  naked."  said  they  with  tears, 
"and  you  clothed  us  ;  in  ))rison  and  y<»u  visited  us  I" 

Methodism  m  France,  as  indeed  all  spiritual  rt'liirion.  has  had 
a  hard  tune.  Atheists  and  IJomanists  alik<'  have  pei'secuted  it, 
and  its  strnirirles,  reverses  and  suireriiiL^"^  hav*^  outdone  any  in 
purely  heatlMMi*  lands.  After  tlu^  hatth*  of  Waterloo,  Charles 
Codk  Itecame  for  forty  years  the  foremost  Methodist  laborer,  and 
on  a  small  scale  did  as  well  and  wisely  as  ^^''esley  had  dono  in 
Kni^land.  There  are  now  in  France  ahout  two  thousand  Method- 
ists, 'i'hey  have  a  c(tniplete  or^ani/ation  and  an  increasiiiii 
])rospei'ity.  Few  as  tln'y  are  in  a  jx'ople  of  thirty  millions,  "a 
(Todked  and  pervcrs<^  nation."  they  have  aide<l  F^rench  Cliristianity 
imd  they  are  now  eflectively  workinu'  with  the  other  cvauiridical 
missions  to  estahlish  piety  in  France. 

The  Iteautifiil  Isle  of  \\'ii:lit  is,  l»y  oiii^  incident  and  hy  the 
cliaracter  of  one  huMiltle  person,  enihalmed  ff)r  fraLrrant  memory 
ill  Methodism  anw  evci;  in  the  ChrfStian  world.     Wesley  came  to 


P 


I'l 


lil 


iiM  Hi 

II!;     M 
111  » 

til  (L    •  i 


ii 


11 


•  1 


■Jl 


1'    <' 


! 

i 

j 

t  -  ■ 

'    j 

1 

2<;i 


TIk^.   Sf()ri/  nf  MctJifnUstn. 


m 


file  islniid  ill  17.").).  He  loimd  iiiiiid  its  (•iiiiniiiiiir  ^^'-'Micry,  that  li:is 
made  it  tlic  clioscii  hoiiu^  ot'  I'oyally,  _ir<'iiiiis  and  leisure.  ":i 
liuniaiie,  I(»\  iiiir  people.  Surely,  it"  tlier«>  was  any  one  here  lo 
preach  the  word  of  (Jod  wilh  powev.  .a  niullitude  would  soou  l»e 
ohedient  to  the  faith. "'  In  1  7711,  pre.aeheis  from  Poi'tsiuouth  eaiue 
and  ISIethodism  was  <'stanlished.  Six  years  latei-  AN'esley  found 
that  "th(^  work  ot"  (Jod  had  prospered  thei'«'.'' 

No  tnu't  in  this  century  has  been  read  with  deliiiiit  so  wide  and 
salutaiy  as  "The  Dairyman's  DauLditei'."  Lciu'h  Richmond,  a 
clerjryman  in  \\'ii:ht,  was  one  day  called  to  attend  the  t'unerjil  of 
H  youJig  Avoniiin  in  a  remote  ))ai't  of  his  ))a'Msh.  Her  father, 
venerable  in  yeai's  and  reverent  in  l»eai"in;i',  had  hi-ouirht  a  note 
from  liis  survivinir  (hiuirhter.  lie  was  a  laborer,  whose  earniuirs 
Avere,  with  the  ])r()ime«?  of  a  small  dairy,  the  sup|)()rl  of  hi> 
family  of  five  or  six.  'Y\w  writer  of  th(0<'tter  I'ad  "  let"t  a  iroud 
j)].ice'"  and  come  to  the  help  and  coml"()i"t  of  lier  hotue.  Four  of 
fh(^  family  she  had  ((uietly  hrouirht  to  ('hrist,  a.nd  the  rustic  home 
was  a  house  of  ( iod,  a  uate  of  he.aven.  .Vt  the  t'unei';d.  Kichmond 
was  sti'uck  with  Ihe  sei'eiu^  and  i)leasinir  l"ace.  warmed  with  a  i:l()W 
of  devotion,  of  this.  now.  only  daui:hter.  A  ))ower  I'ested  in  il, 
and  a  hard  man  was  melted  whih  the  burial  servi»'e  was  proceedin;!:'. 

From  this  u'irl.  K'ichmond  i\as  i^iad  to  leai'u  relii;i(in.  as  the 
wisdom  of  the  wise  could  not  teach  it.  .*<he  at  ieULitli  tell  ill. 
He  saw  he','  jtillowed  up  in  an  arm-chaii',  the  same  sweet  radiaiuc 
gh)win<:'  in  her  face,  for  (iod  was  the  streiiirth  of"  her  heait. 
Soon  :i  soldier  came  to  tell  the  pastoi',  "She  is  ifoiiiir  home  \vy\ 
fast,  sir."  "She  is  a  brii.'lit  diamond,"  said  the  ))ious  vi'teraii. 
"whose  eamp  was  not  far  away,  "and  will  soon  shine  briirliter  than 
any  diamond  on  earth."' 

Richmond  found  the  jH-ace  of  (iod  on  hei'  l"ace  and  in  lici' 
he.'ii't.  "The  Lord  deals  so  <jrently  with  me!"'  "All  is  well." 
j<aid  she,  as  she  touciied  the  untrodden  shore.     "Ftii'eweU   until 


^If'f //(!>/ I'silt       h'll/l  I'S      /•'f'l/l<l'. 


2(55 


\\w  efornal  m<)niiii<:I"  raiiu'  IVoiii  IJiclmioiurs  lu-art.  Al  Iho 
I'lmcriil,  a  (U'l'p  joy  disprllcd  all  sadness.  Tlif  class  leader, 
•111  airi'd  matron,  "reinarkahly  decent  looUniir,"  and  the  devout 
soldiei"  joined  their  testimony  with  Kiehmond's  as  to  tin-  hU'ss- 
ii\irs  that  her  modest  sanctity  had  shed,  and  all  who  knew  her 
said  amen.  In  all  the  i-ecoids  ot'  .Methodism  there  is  no  story 
so  complete,  so  «:enlle  an<l  so  touchin<r  as  hers.  It  has  ^^one  into 
mon;  than  thii'ty  lanjruajies  and  has  hroujrht  \n  salvation  its  thou- 
sands. To-day,  more  jx'ople  visit  Kli/abeth  Walll>rid<re's  lowly 
;.nave  than  the  (Queen's  Osliorne  I*alac«>,  n<'ar  hy,  or  Teimyson'rt 
Ketreat,  and  ^ens  ot"  thousands  read  tln'  Christian  Idyl  of  her  life 
who  have  lu-ver  heard  of  "The  Idyls  of  the  Kinir." 

The  younir  woman  had  been  converted  under  the  labors  of  a 
preacher,  James  Cralth.  One  of  her  l>i-othe!s  was  t'oi'  forty  years 
a  useful  local  |treacher,  and  a  chapel  near  the  simple  cottage  of 
her  })arent>  stands  as  if  it  were  hei-  momiment. 

The  Scillv  Isles  weie  not^.rious  as  tln'  home  of  snmirjrh'rs,  if 
not  of  wreck(  rs  and  pirat«'s.  ,Iosej)h  ^u'clill'e,  pi'eachinir  at 
Land's  Knd,  was  moved  to  ufo  ovei*  and  help  these  pool*  jieople. 
On  his  second  \isit,  he  was  kept  l>y  contrai'v  winds  tor  thn'o 
months  and  I'oi'med  a  society  of  thirty-three.  Thus  the  mai'L^ins 
of  Hn^la\id  in  its  southern  streak  of  sdver  >ea  felt  the  thr(ti»  of 
the,  newness  of  its  rcli;.nous  life.  'Wnd  the  i>lcs  shull  wait  for 
Ills  Law  ."' 


<\ 


"^ 


-^^^^<^L.2^^^ 


^ 


^•^~ 


H    ^i 


!"'!I 


;: 


Ill"  ■' 


!;iJ! 


f:  :>l 


I  I 


-m 


(  HiH! 


I.. 


4 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

.{j'fer  l.'.c  Dpdth  of  WesJe>/. 

KSLKV  (lied  iiitlui  Tnrinito  poaco,  and  i'uli 

of  !i()})<^  for   liis   people-,  in   view   of  the 

ability  of  the  men  raised  up  around  him, 

the  (•han<ro   in  the   national  temper  and, 

"best   of  all,  (Jod   is  with   us."     IIo  left, 

as  we  have  seen,  a  complete  organization, 

amply  (Mulowed  with  modes  and  appliances  for 

cirective   workinir.     A  band  of   itinerants,    tive 

"*^  hundred  and  lifty  in  all,  with  veterans  true  and 

tried  at  its  head,   was   in  condition  to  operate  tlu;  system,  and  a 

hundi-ed  and  forty  thousand  livinir  members  W(ire  sriving  it  loyal 

adhesion  and  supi)oi't. 

Yet,  among  tlu;  preachers,  there  was  anxiety.  "My  soul 
trembles  for  the  ark  of  the  Lord,''  wrote  one  who  seemed  to 
speak  for  many.  None  were  living  who  had  stood  by  the  cradle 
of  Methodism:  not  a  fe^':  felt  that  they  might  follow  its  hearse. 
\V(\sley  died  in  ti'oubjous  times.  France,  the  central  land  Oi 
Cln'istendom,  was  l)ursting  like  a  volcano  into  a  blaze  that 
might  l)e  wiiU'  and  i-uinous,  and  some  were  stricken  v.ith  alarm. 
Otliei's  hailed  the  I'cw  c()nvul>ion  with  wild  delight,  as  if  they 
sii\\  in  it  the  pi'omisc  ;i;id  ])ot(>ncy  of  a  new  ordei' of  blessings 
to  mankind.  iJoth  classi'^  felt  lh(>  instability  t)f  human  in<li- 
tut  ion>. 

Satan  was  not  idle  at  -\vA\  a  ci'isis,  and  by  a  strange  providence 
a  man  rose  up  to  do  liim  eHectiv(>  sei'vice.  "Tom  Paine"  did 
more    liann    to  thrtc    generations  of   l-jiglish-speaking  men    than 


A^ftnr  (he  Lnulh  of  Wrsh ;/. 


2(57 


iiuy  on<5  who  cvd*  used  llic  Eiiulish  liuiuuiip'.  IT'"  was  boi'ii  in 
lJi2fl;»ii(l.  l)iit  iTiiint'd  liis  lioiiors  in  America,  where  his  paiuphh't, 
"(ommon  Sense."  ehaiiiicil  (liscontoiit  iiilo  revolution.  .M'ter  an 
tiiri'irelie  eai'iMM".  whieli  won  liini  lioiioi's  and  e.sla<(>s,  \\n\  "pipini^ 
times  of  peace'"  wer(^  loo  (aine  lor  him.  lie.  went  to  Franc*^, 
1mm  ame  a  eiti/en.  and  was  lionored  in  the  "  Keign  of  Terror''  with 
;i  celi  and  a  narrow  escape  from  the  irnillot ine.  As  he.  passed  to 
])rison.  he  handed  to  Hai'low,  an  American,  the  mamiseript  of  a 
liooU,  '"riie.  Aire  of  Keason."  that  di<l  more  harm  to  the:  connnon 
miiitl  than  any  other  on  record.  It  had  neither  wit  nor  wisdom, 
]>iil  its  ahsurdity  and  au(hicity  amounted  to  souK^tlnui:^  like  jjfenius. 
It  sliowed  what  Cioctlio  calls  "tho  demoniacal  faculty."  This 
l)()()k  spread,  with  tho  ener<ry  of  circulation  <r!»ined  by  "The,  Rights 
of  Man."  and  loug  after  Pained  had  die(l  tho  death  of  contempt, 
remorse  and  drunkenness,  it  furnished  sneers,  ilings  and  false- 
lioods  to  turn  the  hearts  of  common  men  from  tho  truth. 

^^'ell  was  it  for  England  that  jNIethodism  was  planted  before 
8ii<'li  times  came  on  ! 

It  was  impossible  to  have  one  man  in  Wesley's  )>lace.  \o  mau 
living  could  center  in  himself  such  love,  trust  an<l  obedienco. 
The  Conferenco  ))roceeded  according  to  tiu^  l)ee<l  of  Declaration, 
liiit  that  (locunu'ut,  like  the!'.  S.  Constitution,  gave  room  for])ai"- 
lic-.  It  w;is  so  general  that  special  ])olicic'S  had  to  be  fi'anied  to 
it>  intent  and  nietuiing,  and  thence  came  contro\ crsy.  ''  Shall  the 
>ii(i'aments  be  administered  in  tlii^  chapels?''  To  this  such  Meth- 
inli-is  as  had  been  trained  Churchmen  naturally  .said  no;  those 
nitiir  from  the  l)issentei's  said  yes. 

The  leader  of  the  atlirmativc  was  Kilhani,  who  iiad  been  Pn-acken- 
luii'\'s  servant  in  Jersew  lie  was  eiwri'i't  ic,  tenacious  ot'  o')in- 
iim.  and  not  inlirm  of  juirpo^e.  Kven  before  "Wesley's  death  ins 
iiiiinl  ua>.  '■  Let  us  have  the  lilM-rty  of  I'jiglishmen  and  givi;  the 
kind'-  Su)>i)er  to  our  xicielie-.  I"'     Discussion  of  the  (juestion,  which 


^^^^j 


•i)    : 


'■'Ii 


i 


*  f 


'! 


ifHII 


H   .,;. 


■ii  iM 

Id'     >« 


tttiii 


i  I 


f 


M      '    1 


''I 


»i 


u 


.1 


i; 


i; 


'  .1 


■  I 
:  j 


2ns 


Tlif     Shn'i/    i>f   MiIIukI  Isiil . 


had  (Imiiiir  tlu'  year  lifcii  iiLnlatcil  liy  ciiviilars,  cnmo  on  in  tli(^ 
('f)nf('i-«!iicn  ol"  IT'.IJ.  \\'lu'M  IK)  i'IkI  rniilil  1>«'  i-faclicd.  tlic  matter 
for  tlic  year  was  j)ray('i't'ully  <'onniiitt»'<l  to  the  disposal  of  the  Lord 
liy  lot.  Adam  ('iarkc  drew  tli<'  lot.  "  Voii  shall  not  •jfivc  flu'  sac- 
rament tliis  year."  "  His  voii-c  in  rcadinir  it  was  like  a  voice  tVoin 
tli(^  clonds."  On  this  snltject  the  tirst  address  ever  issui'd  to  the 
s()eieti(!s  was  s(Mit  forth  )>y  the  ( "onferene*'.  It  was  now  ordered 
that  no  itinerant   shonld 


seek  oi'dination  or  hold 
me«'t  in<rs  (hirinir  "  ehureh 
honrs  "  in  a  new  place 
wifhont  the  express 
permission  of  the  Con- 
ference. 'I'he  same  j)er- 
s  o  n  w  a  s  n  o  t  t  o  I)  e 
president  of  the  ( 'on- 
t'ereiict'  moi'c  than  once 
in  eii:hl  years. 

The  cii'cnit.s  were 
dividi'd  into  districts,  of 
wlil<h  the  preachers, 
snnmictned  l>y  tho  one 
appointed  hy  the  i\n\- 
ference  as  "Assistant." 

■^  ,1  AI.KX.VNIICK  KII.IIAM. 

wei'e  connniHee   (»n    tli<' 

all'aiis  of  the  district.  They  were  to  choose  one  of  (heir  oN\n 
nnmher  as  a  niendx'r  of  the  "  Stationinji;  ( 'onnnittee."  mIio  nut 
thr«'e  days  of  lh<^  week  helorc!  C  onf'ereiice  to  prepare  the  ap})oiiii- 
nients  of  the  followinir  vear.  AltlMuiiih  the  l>eed  allowed  a  niMii 
to  reiiiahi  three  years  in  one  ])lace.  the  term  was  now  chani/cd  \o 
two  years. 

The  deliale  alMiiil  the  s,"'raineM;s  w  a-i  of  coiir>e  resnme<l.      Soiiir 


Afhr  the   Ihath   of    W'-xhii. 


■IKWS 


mon.  wlioiu  U't'-lfv  had  authorized  to  adiuiuistc  r  tlu'sr,  dcchirod  it 
to  li(>  tlicii'  trlt  duty  so  tti  tlo.  and  soon  "  we  wcfc  as  unu'li  divided 
;is  cvci'."      KilliaiM  was  I'nrc  iio>t  in  tlic  discussion. 

This  year,  he  was  in  Sco'land  wiicrc,  the  ( 'hui'cli  not  Itciny; 
llitTc,  th(>n'  was  nothinu"  to  hin(h'r  him  iVoni  cUtini:"  as  he  lik«'d. 

In  IT'.i.l.  the  ('ont'crcncc  oi'dcn-d  that  where  any  society  sliouhl 
luianiuiously  wish  the,  sacraments,  tht'se  shouhl  he  achninistei'cd, 
and  that  full  coimexion  with  the  ( 'oul'ei'ence  shouhl  he  counted  or- 
(hnation  suflicient  without  the  layinir  on  of  hands.  None  ol"  tlu^ 
|ii'each<'rs  w<'re  to  use  cassocks,  nowns,  hands,  or  surplices,  or  to 
he  called  "  K'everend."  So  wei'c  "clerical  |)i-etensions  *' avoided. 
Tlie  )»eril  of  division  was  hy  |)i'ndence  and  ))iety  t'oi' the  t  inie  avert- 
ed, and  Kilham's  en(  iL''y  was  turned  airainst  theatei's  and  horse- 
races. 

Nolhin|ii'  was  as  \kA  |)ennanently  settled.  "  \N\'  I'eally  have  no 
iioverument ."  said  Pawson.  ))resident  in  IT'j;?.  "  Kpiscopal  l'ov- 
cniiUiMit  will  suii  our  |)resen(  ))lan  tar  hettei'  than  Preshyteriaii. 
Ti!  j)resei-v(^  all  that  was  valuahle  in  the  Church  of  Huiiland  amontr 
l!if  Methodists,  Mr  NN'esley  ordained  Di'.  ( "oUe  and  Mi'.  Mather 
to  he  rjishoi)s.  lie  (h'siiiiied  that  they  should  ordain  others.  Mr. 
Matlier  told  us  so.  I  -isnv/tdy  wish  (hat  they  may  he  allowed  to 
Ite  what  they  ar<'.      We  must  have  ()rdmati»»n  at  any  I'ate." 

it  is  airreed  that  I'awson  was  rinht,  and  that  in  his  plans  tor 
Anjt'rica.  includinir  the  oi'duiation  of  ('oUeaud  Ashury  as  liishops, 
Wesley  sho\\<Ml  his  real,  unhindci'cd  mind. 

On  this  came  the  next  dchate.  The  most  eunnent  of  the  ( 'on- 
ference  held  Pawsou's  views,  and  they  airreed  to  recouunend  at  the 
iK'Xl  session  "  SupeiMiiteiidenls "  (liishops)  and  ordination.  In 
llii>  the  wealthiest  and  ahlest  layiiK'nand  trustees  nol»ly  concuri'ed. 
Killiam  and  his  friends  opposed  all  lhi>  viuoi-ously,  demandini:' that 
the  prea<hers  refuse  ecclesisst ical  titles,  saci'aiuents.  ordinations, 
;iiiii  even  the  hurial  of  the  dead. 


1M 


f  I 


IM 


'•ill    M 

•  Ml     ,  , 

lir 


I'    \ 


't! 


.  1 


.s 


I 


270 


Th>i   Sfnn/  nf  Mcfhodis 


in. 


'Pile  ('ont'crcncc  (tf  17!' I  >t:i\  rd  nil"  llic  issues  l)y  ;ill()\vir.ir  the 
Loi'd's  Sii|>|MT.  l»M|)t ism  :iii(l  Imi'iiil  l»_v  llic  prcaclici's  (tiily  wlioro 
"l(i\('  jiikI  coMcord  <':m  l»c  Ihcrrhy  proiiKilcd." 

Tlic  crisis  cMiiic  in  Uristol  in  the  lii>l  cliiipcl  ot"  Wesley's  biiilil- 
iiiLf.  Henry  Mooi*'.  llie  pr<'!ielier.  was  in  lavor  <»l'  the  saenunents 
in  the  eliapel.  Tlie  Irnstccs,  licini;"  (»|)p()Se(l  lo  wliat  lliev  kli<>\v 
lie  would  do.  i)))tained  a  wi'it  nl'  injunetion  to  keep  liim  tVoni 
ju'eaeliinii"  until  tlu-  is>u»'  he  lei:ally  detmuined.  Ilcwriit  iutotlie 
l)ulpit.  rcMtl  tlie  injunetion.  and  then,  loihtwed  Ity  all  hut  twenty 
ol'tlie  eoULi'i'eiiat  ion.  went  to  another  eliapel.  where  "the  NVord  ot* 
(iod  wa>  not  ItoiMid."  'Phis  hlow  at  itinerancy.  I>y  iiivnig- tnisti^es 
control  ol'tlie  pulpit,  was  approved  hy  some  of  the  j^reat-lu'r.s 
and  l(»okcd  disastrous.  If  Moore  was  not  sustained,  the  sys- 
tem inusi  1^(1  to  pieces.  Auain  love  ])revai]ed.  Aftei*  a  day  of 
fastinirand  prayer,  the  trustees  of  tlu^  chap«'l  where  Moon;  was 
t'lijoined  transt'eri'ed  their  i)ropcrty  to  those,  of  tlu'  chapel  to  which 
he  had  let  ii't-d.  and  Methodism  in  Bristol  was  whole  ai.f'ain.  At 
the  next  Conferenc*'.   171i."»,  was  completed  a  "  I'lan  of  Pacilicution." 

'Pile   >acranients   and    hurials.    also    divine!   servii-e    in    "chun-li 


lOUl' 


aft«'r  the   e 


»nsent  of  the   ( '(Hit'erence.   must  he  det«'rminctl 


hy  a  majority  ot'  the  trustiM's.  stewards  and  leaders — i.  e.,  of  the 
(Quarterly  ( 'onference.  'Plie  Lord's  Supper  should  not  he  had  at 
tin-   chapels   on  the   same   Siuidays  as  at  the  churches;   that   it  he 


<•(» 


nducted  riccordinii-  to  the  (  hiii-cli  KMtual ;  that  the  Liturirv,  "NV 


ley's    Ahridi:iiienl  i>t'il.<trat  lea>l  the  Lessons  in  the  Calendar,  he 

u•^{•^\    \\heiie\ei'.    in    I'-iinlaiid.    diviiie    ser\ice  should    he,    held   al 

"churcii  hour-"";   that  the  a|)po!iilmeiit  of  the  preachers   he  solely 

with  I  he  ( 'onference.  and  no  excln-ion  of  llieiii  I'rom  iIki  pulpits  h\ 


the    truslee 


dl 


mow  ei 


I.       Pl'eaclieivs.    w  lien    accused.    Uliu'ht   h\'  ;i 


inajorily  \ute  ot'  the    trustees,  o 


r  ot'  the  .>te\\ards   and    leaders,  h 


hrou;:iil  to  trial  hefore  the  pieacliers  ot'  the  (li-lrict  ami  tli(>  (^nai 
teij\'    ('onference,   and,    if   I'ouikI    .luiltv,    he    i'cmoveil    from   tli 


circuit 


Afh:r  (liu   JJvalh    "/■     Wiyfi;/. 


Tli»'s«'  inoMsiircs  ])i'()(liicc<l  in  mIiihoI  cvitv  placf  ilicir  (It-iicd 
ctloct.  Iillt  liol  Mpoil  tlic  ill(l()Mlit:il)lr  l\  illiaiii.  Ili-  llttcl't'il  :i  |i;illi- 
plild  in  liitniioiiy  willi  I  lie  polilicul  w  iiids  llicii  Itlow  iii^:'.  "  11  n'  I'l'o"^- 
icss  of  Lil»(>rt  y  iiiuoiii:'  t  lit'  I't-dplc  ( 'a  lift  I  .Mc|lnMli--l^."'  Tlicii  rami 
Ills  "  Mclliodistic  Riill."  I'»»'t\vt'cii  llic  i'i>U  of  tli-lnyally  to  llic 
ci'dwii  and  liostilily  to  riccdoiii.  Ixdli  wliicli  were  cliarut'd  ai;aiiisi 
tliciii,    till"    piTaclit'is    iiccMird    the    wisdom  ol"  tlic    x'i'pciil    and  the 


lariiiU'ssiic 


() 


fllir 


doNc.  Ill  IT'.'C).  Killiani  \\a>  ltroiii:lil  to  trial 
— a  very  historic  event  in  Mellindisui.  His  late  eondnet  had  I'oreed 
some  action.  In  jn-eseiiee  ot"  the  ( 'ontei'enee  he  svas  asked  it"  he 
had  not  on  joininy^  llie  Connection  received  a  copy  ot"  the  lartte 
iiiniutes  (^f)i!<rip/iiii',  in  America)  with  tln'se  words  written  on 
them  and  sii:ned  hy  hiniselt':  "  As  lonjr  as  yon  walk  hy  these  rides, 
we  shall  rejoice  to  receive  you  as  a  tellow-lahorer."  He  had  so 
rcceive<|.  "Ho  you  r<'tract  that  airreeim'iit,  or  covenant?"  "I 
(loire  tiin<'  to  consider  that  <|nestion.'' 

'VUv.  next  inornini:'  Im-  presented  a  paj)er,  hel'ore  the  readinir  of 
which  (1m'  ("onrerem-e  and  hims(dt'  voted  nnaiiimously  to  ahide  l»y 
Wesley's  plan  and  the  aforesaid   Minutes  as  to  doctrine  and  disei- 


llie 


Hi 


is  papi'r  contained  no  answer  or  detence,  imt  only  a  rejie- 


tition  of  his  own   (•harucs  aiiaiiist   the   Conference.      H<'  was  11 


Us 


ked  if  he  aL'reed    with  the  rules  in  the   .Minult'i 


As  f 


leu 


ir  as 


thcv  are  :ii;n'eal>le  to  Scripture 


U'e  airree  NO  /}/r  with  the   Koran:   we  airree  with  these   rule 


lecause  we  iielieve  tlieni  mirccdlilr  lo  .Scri|)tur( 


hir  1< 


H( 


e  made  no  aii- 


>wcr. 


His  char*.:*'.'*  a<rainst  the  preachers  wer<'  pronounced  "  unproved 
and  shmderous.  not  one  of  which  has  he  proven." 

Th(!so  charjj^es  w(^re  of  wastinir  tlu?  puhlic  uioiiey,  "swindlinir" 
and  secrecy  in  business,  tyranny.  admittiiiL^  preachers  from  sellish 
iiKitives,  and  nmcli  of  that  sort  of  thinL^  He  was  unaniuiously 
adjudired  "unworthy  of  beini:  a  mendtei"  of  the  Methodist  Connec- 


'llM|4' 


:i;l  { 


,^m\  \ 


II  k 


If     M 

;p  -'I 

•Miii 


I  I 


1 1 


t  f 

.ii 

1 1 


lit 


1 


i4i|! 


272 


Tin-    Slnr</    './'   Mill',, III 

%■'  I 


f<ni , 


tioii  "  Mild  lii>  iiiinu'  \\:i^  >tru(  k  Iroiii  it>  ro 


11.      St 


ill  oiii'  liiofc  ('Hurt 


\\:i^  tli:i(l(>  Id  will  llilli  ItiK'k,  ImiI   the  tiliiil  vote  \\m>:    "  i  Ic  collhl   li;i\i 
iio  |)l:irr  ill  ilic  ( 'oiiiicct  ion  while  lie  colli  iiiiifd  ill  lii>  prociit  ojiiii- 


Ions. 


llcwriil  lorlli  Mini  Ik'U'mm  rotindiiii:' the  "  M('tlio<li>t  New  ( 'on- 
iicclioii."  Into  this  :il)oiit  live  thousand  went  with  liiiii.  Tlici! 
chirl"  diircrtiicc  iVoiii  the  Wcslcyaiis  is  that  th(<  laymen  have  e(|nal 
voice  with  the  eleri:\    in  ('Inireli   noveniinent .      TIicn'  iimiiher  no 


w 


about  thirty-three  thousand  ineinliers.  ot'  whom  a  lew  are  in  Ire- 
land, and  alioiit  ten  thousand  in  ('aiiada.  Their  president,  in 
lSM».  was  Dr.  'rownsend,  whose  father  aided   Killiam  in  t'oundiiii: 

the   .\«'W   (  'olllieel  ion. 

The  eri>is  now  passed  and  discipline  was  pn!S(;rV(Ml.  TheCoii- 
lereiice  rejoiced  w  illi  excee(liiiii'  <ireat  Joy. 

riieii  came  lor  two  N'ears  a  strni:i:le  of  iireat  intensilv.  The 
j)riiici|)le  involved  in  Kilhanrs  iiioveineiit  was  really  whether  tli(> 
laity  should  remain  as  in  Wesley's  time,  or  whether  they  should 
share,  even  possess,  the  appoint  iiiu'  power,  and  direct  in  the  inat- 
t«'r  ot'tlie  sacraments.  At  last,  in  1  71>7.  the  adjustment  het  ween  the 
Conrerence  and  the  trustees  of  the  chapels,  as  met  in  convention, 
was  complete.  To  the  Conference  remained  its  riiiht  of  appoint- 
inu'  IIk'  prea«'liers  and  coiitridlini:'  the  pulpits:  a  majority  of  the 
(Quarterly  Coiifereiice  ha\  iiiv  ihc  riii'lit  to  demand  at  any  time  the 
trial  of  any  preat-her  l»y  the  clerical  olli<'ers  of  tli(^  cii-cuit  l»y  whom 
Im"  miu'ht  he  susjieiided  until  the  next  (  onfereiice.  Tli«'  sacraments 
also  were  to  l>e  adminisierccl  in  the  chapels,  and  many  other  con- 
cessions were  urantcil  t(>  the  societies — i.  e.,  to  the  laity. 

''  riius.  hrethreii.  we  liav<'  eiveii  up  the  trreatesl  part  of  our  ex- 
ecutive  u'overnment   into  your 
(HIS  |)ul>lic  meet  iiiii's."" 


hand 


s,  as  renresi 


uited 


in  \()ur  vaii- 


In  all  these  Ncars  of  the  coiitrover->\'  Methodisiu  went  on  Lir( 


)W 


iuii".  i"or  (leliate  did  not    hinder   preai-liiiin'.      ( )ver  thirty   thousand 


Afhr  till-   Ihiii},   ,,f'    )IV.-/<//. 


iiii'iiil»t'i'.  Wfi'c  !::iiiifi|  ill  t  lie  lii'^l   -cvoi  \r;ir-  al'lrr  \\  (•^lfy">  dt-MlIi  : 

i,|._.llt  \ ->ix    IIMIIK'^   were  :I(|(1(m|  to  IJic  (  '<  niriM-cilcr   li-t.   lM'->i(lc>  lilliliLl' 

ill,,  ,(.\  rill  \ ->i.\  liliiiik^  iii;i(li'  I'v  (Itatli.  (Icltilii  y.  or  (li'lrcl  imi. 

l)iii'iiii:'  tlii'x'  Nfiif^.  -(•iiic  iin'ii  of  \\\y\x<'  i:il"l^  (Miiir  iiiln  llic  ( 'mi- 
t'cic.u'c.  men.  who  in  \:iri<»iis  \v;iy-*  nidcil  tlif  worU  wiiliiii  it  miil 
",i\('  it  L:'t>«»<l  i"»'|»ul«'  iiln'oml.  ol"  wlioiii  our  Aiiirriciiu  r('Mil('r>.  now 
i!i,il  llif\-  >«•(•  llu-  rise  and  full  progrt-ss  of  tlie  system,  will  iiol  caro 
I,,  licMi'  parliculiirly. 

It  was  linic  lor  iho 
ilifoloi^iaii  to  a])|it'!ir.{ind 
I  hi-  was  l!!i-h)iril  Wat- 
s',n.  I  he  most  cmiuont 
|iicaclu'i'ot'tlit'  ut'xt  iron- 
f  la  I  i  t»  u  ,  grca  t  «'sl  as 
oiaior.  as  socrotary,  and 
;i-  author. 

lie  caiuo  into  the  inin- 
i>try  at  sixteen,  ali'eady 
lall  ot'  slat  life  and  iid- 
vaiieed  ill  classic  sludii^s. 
lie  liad  a  la>le  lor  mot- 
;i|tiiysics.  and  in  piejiar- 
i  II  ^!-  I  o  discuss  some 
knotty  point  ot"  ( 'al\  in- 
i-iii    he   had   ii'one   to  u'l't 

;iimiinenl>  l>y  hearing  a  i»reachei'.  Instead  (if  aigumcnts  he  gain- 
rd  deep  and  keen  religious  convictions,  and  in  a  lew  days  came  to 
|i;irdoii  and  peace.  "()  what  a  day  was  tliat  !"'  said  he  long  after. 
Ill'  at  once  liegan  to  study,  and  soon  was  exhorling.  His  lir-t 
M  iiiioii  was  III  a  cotlai:*'  Ml  r>ooihl»y  on  \\w  day  after  he  hecame 
lil'ieeii.  He  wfiil  Oil  prea«'liing,  not  wiliioiil  some  taste  of  riol 
and  ai)us(>.  I»nt    making  deep  impression>,  and   lu'  was  soon  culled 


Ki;v.  uicii Aid)  w crsoN. 


> 


iii<ll< 


...  i 


iM 


'»">»^ ;, 


I  tit 
I 


IK  , 


IM  I 
lit  I 

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•loll 


I 


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I  I 


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If 


If 


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L>71 


Jo    lllf    (  'olirclTllcr 

\  i'Iiiil:.  iiiilf>>  it 


Thr    Stni-if    itf  Mi/I,,„l!.s 


///. 


Ill   mII    it-    lii-liii\    it    IiM-   H    "i .  ;•(!    iim 


K'  so 


M-     It, 


I'n-t 


IT.    llnW    !l    \  clirrMlill'     r>i-ll(ijl   dl     the 


M.  I].  (  IiiiitIi  ill  Aiiici'ic'i. 


All  IT  ti\  I'  \  I'Mi'-  III"  Iim  I'll  >(T\  icr  :inil  -i'\  iTc  -IikIn  .  lie  1(11111(1  liiin- 
■>fir  rliMi'L''*''!  w  illi  Ik'I'csv — !i  irrciiinllf--.  lnil  :iiimt\  iiii:'  mihI  >\\il'il\- 

('irciihiliii:.''.  cIimi'lm'.      He  ;iric(|   iiii\\i>flv — | \i>lily   n'tii'iiiir  iVniii 

('oiirci'ciiic.  niliTiiiL''  scciiliir  Imsiiir-s  svillimil  >ii(  r("'>,  iiiid  tii-n 
ItfcdiiiiiiL:' ;i  |>r('.*iclici'  ill  l\illi:inrs  New  ( 'niiiicclidn.  In  InIl*.  In 
\V!ls  w  ('Icdliicd  l»iirk  to  the  ( 'oiircrciKc  ;ili<l  N\.'i>  ill  (•iiir  its  Inii-. 
Iliost  IMMM.  lie  tditU  lip  the  (Tnilid  III'  Met  liiM|i>in  ill  tlic  \Mii'l<l 
uitli  :i  rccliiiir  \\i><'  Mild  lol'lv  lirvoiid  iiiiv  oilier  li\  iiii:  iircMclin  . 
The  iiii>sioii!iry  cniisc,  ciiihodicd  for  yciirs  in  ( 'oki-,  :is  M('tliodi>iii 
ilscirii;i(|  once  itccii  ('iiilMidicd  ill  W'rslcy.  Irll  into  lii>  liiuids.  A 
])lf:i  uiiirli  lie  made  lor  it  in  liondon.  iNl*!,  pt'ovcd  liiin  cmIIciI  ti, 
lie  its  iiiiidini:'.  riicriri/ini:'  spirit. 

lie  was  made  a  s«'(T('laiy  of  tlic  New  \\'<'sh'yaM  Missioiiaiv 
Socii'lv  wliicli  succeeded  the  personal  inanaL'eineiit  of  Coke. 
jMid  in  1S21  lie  hecaine  its  resident  (periuaneni )  secretary.  \\\ 
lie  hejiaii  llie  service  of  tlie  society,  its  income  was  thirty-live  tli 
sand  dollars,  its  niis>ionari»'s  were  sixty,  its  converts  were  til't 
thousand.     Me  left  it  with  two  Inindred  and  lit'tx'  thousand  dollar 


leil 


ou- 


eeii 


s  ol 


income,  one  hnndi-ed  laborers,  and  i"oi*ty-toiir  thousand  c(tiiin\iiiii- 
caiils,  and  the  society  stretchinir  itself  to  re;ich  all  tiie  heathen 
world.  If  we  may  trust  Kohert  Hall,  tlie  irreatest  Uaptist  preach- 
er of  our  first  half-century,  Watson  was  a  iiTeater  preacher  than 
Hall  himsi'lf.  Allowiiii:"  much  to  Hall's  generosity,  we  may  coiiiil 
Watson  the  peer  of  the  _L''reat  IJaptist.  Pale,  siiUly  and  treinii- 
loils,  he  made  heart'l's  of  every  class  feel  the  j)resence  ;ind  tlir 
touch  of  a  master.  Hail  was  so  enchanted  l>y  one  of  lii>  sernuui- 
that  he  could  for  a  lonir  time  think  of  nothinir  else.  The  preadi- 
er*s  soul  came  out  in  speech,  and  with  no  action  or  <rr..ce  of  deli\- 
erv  he  swvpt  his  hcju'er.s  into  r<'irions  which  no  liviji*;  .s))eakt  i 
'lared  to  enter,  or  even  supi)osed  to  exl,-t. 


I 


Af}rr    thr     Ihilth     of      U'«,s//'y. 


f75 


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(>  WMs  Mil  Illiw  t:irif( 


IwriltT.      Soutlicr,  (he  poet  I/iuroati'.  li;i(l 


rittcii   W'fslcv's   lilr   iVuiii  ;i   worMly  :iinl   litri-ai'v   \ir 


u 


Wilt- 


Ill's  "  ( )li>fr\  III i">ii«  "  -t 


I    Siiiiilif\-   iii:lit.   Mild   \\'Mr-«iir' "  Lil"t' of 


Wc-li'V  ■"  liM^  Immomk'  tlu'  tlassicMl  (iiic.  Hi".  " 'riMMi|(»;^ical  liisti- 
tiilcs "'  MP'  >lill  M  .-Imi-<ImI(1  ill  M('tlit»(li>i  ^iiidv .  rw  i-cd  l»y  Dr. 
M.('liiit(><lx.  Itiit  not  >ui»('i>(Mlt'd.  lie  -tMiid>  willi  AdMiii  ClMrUc, 
-Miiir  vcar-^  lii>  x'liior:  with  liuiitiiiir  snid  Nfwioii.  wlm  cMiiir  a  lit- 
ilc  iMtfi- M-.  llii'  rt'irc^ciitMtivc  iiKMi  (if  Kiii:Ti-li  Mt-ilindi-iii  in  llio 
lir-l  liair  "I"  oiir  cciilury. 


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CIIAITKIJ  XXIi. 


Smnp  ^f('f//n(/is/   ]\')//n'ii. —  77/r  ViUmn'  JthirksiuifJt. 


graviiii;  of  that  scene. 

Ann   Cutter    arose  to  aid    (Iraniwell  at    Dew.sbury  in  a  irrcnt 
revival   in  wliieli,  on  an  Easter  dav,  liftv  were  converted.     At'tcr- 


Li 


IffllHV: 


Snnir    Mi-fliml !,'<l     Wdiiii'Ii.  —  Tin'     YHJd'ji'    Jil(ifl,-siii !lh  .       'Ill 

w.'irds,  ;il  liristi)],  Nelson's  oM  lioiuc,  :m  iiiiiaziii;^'  jjiiwcr  tVoin  on 
liil^li  <i'!i\('  /»';il  to  liiT  l;il)iirs.  She  Irll  lici'scl!"  cjillcd  witli  a  special 
and  lieaNcnly  eallinu'.  She  eoiisecraled  herself  to  a  siniile  life,  hut 
not  ill  eon\'eiit  walls 

••  When;  evcr-inusiiig'  Molaiielioly  rei<?i).s" 

and  there  is  nt)  eiitraiiee  t'oi' 

*•  Frosli-blooining  llopo,  swoet  tlauj^htur  of  tin;  sky." 

She,  "  li'lowini:'   witli   seraphic   llanies.""  seemed   a   "sainted  maid" 

come  down  iVom  above 
to  ji'uide  sinnei's  to  mcri'v 
and  tiu!  ueary  to  rest. 
She  rarely  cxliorted,  Iml 
her  tendei',  ardent  pray- 
ers, rip})ling  over  a  con- 
iii'ejjation,  hushed  rll  to 
(piiel  and  .sul)dued  to 
iienitenee  many  u  heart. 
At  midnight,  she  hahit- 
ually  rose  to  give  thanks  ; 
at  four,  she  spent  an  hour 
in  prayer,  and,  tit  dawn 
of  the  last  day  of  lier  life, 
slie  welcomed  the  morn- 
ing with  utterances  of 
glory,  and  in  such  temper 

Mt(ieti(!s"  for  which  she  had  ]iel[)ed  to  tit  so  many.  The  genius 
ol'  (leorge  Eliot  has,  in  "Adam  Bedc,''  introduced  Dinah  Evan.'? 
to  the  acquaintance  of  the  reading  ^\  )i'ld  and  throM'n  around  her 
such  a  charm  as  might  suggest  that  she  is  hut  a  creation  of  the 
iKivclist.     It  IS,  however,  so  strictly  free  from  exaiTireration  as  to 


I'll 


|H 


111 
1. 1 


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is  ;[ 


:           iii>    M 

i 

■ 

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1 

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i 

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i 

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I  i 


I'    '; 


I  I 


■If'  -^ 


J*|- 


■<     li 


!!li  ill 


I 


ill 


278 


The  Kitorij  of  Jlrlliodisui 


be  realistic — u  puiiitcr  can  add  no  charins  to  a  rose.     His  success 
is  perfect  it"  lie  jjaiiit  it  a.s  //  w. 

Seth  Kvaiis  (not  Adam),  her  ]uisl)and,  ^vas  a  uscl'ul  locid 
preaclier  in  ])erl)ysliir(';  Avlieu  she  began  her  public  labors.  Ww 
girlhood  had  been  one  of '' beautiful  years."  A  conscientious 
childhood  was  the  portal  to  a  maiden  life  of  personal  grace  and 
beauty,  and  she  soon  entered  the  sphere  which  AN'eslev  Imd 
opened  for  the  gifts 
of  Christian  ^vomen. 
She  preached  in  cot- 
tages and  in  the  open 
air,  and  the  rudest 
crowds  heard  with 
reverence.  She  went 
totheal)odes  of  dark- 
ness, the  prisons  and 
poor-houses,  to  the 
haunts  of  sin  and 
shame,  and  even  on 
the  gallows  stood  by 
a  murderess  to  aid 
and  comfort  her. 
Elizabeth  Fry,  the 
Howard  of  Quaker- 
ism, found  in  her  a 
kindred  spirit.  Seth, 
then  a  class  leader, 
went  to  hear  her  preach.  His  simple  account  gives  no  hint  ot' 
his  personal  cnamoring.  After  their  mari-iage,  her  infliumce  amis 
felt  even  more  widely.  Seth  and  Dinah  often  walked  on  a  Sundny 
fifteen  miles  to  pr(>:uh  in  benighted  districts,  in  baras,  or  in  the 
open   air.     They  founded  ^Fetliodism  in  many  places,  und  even 


From  Harper'!:   Uf /./;/. 


DINAH   EVANS. 


Sohie  Methodist    ]Vo)urii. —  7'//e    \'t'/hi'/e  Jihivksndlli.      L'T'J 


f1  '  II 


yet  \\\v\\\  liiii:-crs  mI    Ivoysjou   mihI   Milllioiisc   soiiu;  V(!iu'ral)li'  wit- 
nesses 1(1  IIk^  rMillll'lll  l.'lhors  of  llie  (leV()fe<l  piiir. 

Diiiiili  ])!isse(l  iiway  in  ])e:ie(>  :  "one  ol'llie  most  ])ur('-iuindecl 
and  lioly  Avoiiien  tlijil  ever  adoiMied  the  ( 'liiireli  of  ( 'lirist  on  eiirth," 
Selli  \v;is  in  i-iiiiis.  llis  lieidth  sind  liis  lacultics  u'MN-e  siway 
Itenealli  the  l)h)\\,  and  lie  spent  a  lew  leel)le,  teai't'nl  years  in 
humhh^  services  to  the  ])oor,  tin;  sieiv  and  the  dyinn',  and  then  rc- 
Idined  llis  u'il'ted  wile  "  uliere  M'rit't'  lorii't^ts  to  uToan  and  lovo  to 
weep.*' 

Cn'orgo  Eliot,  whethor  she  cared  mncli  oi'  littl(>  foi-  li(>r  own 
>()iil,  kceidy  saw  what  charat-ter  was  hei'c,  and  its  ])ow(M'  to  touch 
human  hearts  was  in  these  lunnhle  ones  ot"  whom  oiu;  said,  "lie 
did  not  helieve  our  ilrst  ])arents  in  Kdon  wore  purer  than  they." 

Dinah  Evans  and  the  Dairyman's  Dauahter,  liviriL''  Jit  the  same 
time,  one  in  Dm'hyshire  and  one  in  the  Isle  of  A\'i2'hl,  are 
cnihalmed,  and  worthily,  one  in  sacred  and  the  otluu'  in  lictiomil 
literature,  to  Ix;  read  for  many  generations. 

Samuid  ITick  Avas  a  man  of  miu'htv  frame,  a  Yorkshire  black- 
smith.  lie  had  heard  Xelson  when  too  young  to  imderstand  hira, 
hut  tlu^  vision  of  a  brave  man  facing  a  howling  mob  never  faded 
from  his  memory. 

He  was  in  York  on  AVhit  ]\[onday,  with  sucu  a  crowd  asAVhite- 
tield  had  found  on  the  sami;  day  at  Mooi'iields.  A  preacher  from 
11  iireaehing-block  beiran  to  sing  when  a  chivuvmau  loudlv  threat- 
mod  to  ])ull  him  down  from  the  l)lock.  Hick,  who  was  listening, 
doubled  his  mighty  fist :  "If  you  disturb  that  man  of  Crod,  I  will 
drop  you  as  sure  as  ever  you  were  born  I"  Tie  then  conducted 
tlio  frightened  cleruyman  to  the  l)order  of  the  crowd  an  1  returned 
to  the  preaching.  lie  afterwards  traveled  scores  of  miles  follow- 
ing' uj)  the  pr(\ichor.  TI(i  went  to  hear  AVesloy,  "an  angel  of 
(i(»d.""  hl^  thought,  and  all  tlu;  while  his  com'iction  that  there  was 
nothing  good  in  himself  was  deepening.     It  grow  into  an  agony 


( 


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■H 

\ 

4  ' 

.1 

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\ 

:; 

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^:l 


.    ,! 


^ 

1- 

V 

['. 

1           ; 

1 

S  i. 

i 

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■ 

t 

mm 


I     ■ ' 


Hii 


280 


77^c  /S/o/'y  r>/'  ^L.'tliod ism. 


and  llicii  cMinci  IIk;  Ciosjx  1  rclici".  His  zciil  \\\  opcc  (l.-mitwl  like 
^IcliiDclilhoirs.  "  r  tlioiiulil  I  cdiild  iiuikc  ;ill  llic  woi'ld  I»clic\c 
when  dayliu'lil  !i|)p('ai'('(l  I"  II('\\<'iil  lir-Mo  a  landlady.  "W'linl. 
liavo  y(ai  bccoinc  a  Mctliodisl  ?  Voii  were  uood  hctoi'"."'  "She 
would  iiol  Ileal'  inc.'"  lie  Weill  away  and  prayecl  t'or  her.  W'lieii 
li(!  caiiie  l»aek,  slie  was  eryiiiL;' al  llie  door.  "  Tlie  Lord  u:a\e  me 
lli(^  lirst  soul  I  aske(l  inr  I"  Hick  weiil  on  |)()Uiidiiiu' liis  aii\il  aiKJ 
prcucliing'  IIk;  (Jos[)el.  "  N'early  llu;  wliolo  town  caiuc  to  my 
shop  and  T  was  always  at  tlieni  I"' 

iris  l»iou"rai)liy  is  lull  of  wonders  told  most  artlessly.  ^V  younu' 
ladv  i'od(i  to  Ids  shop  tor  tlu;  shooiniic  of  lun*  ])aHV('V.  She  was 
dclicut(!.  "  Dost  thou  know,  chihl,  that  tliou  hast  a  soul  ?  Tluni 
hast  ono  Avhcther  thou  knowest  it  or  not,  and  it  will  live  in  haj)- 
piness  or  mis(uy  forever."  She  Avent  home  serious.  Iler  father, 
angiy,  hurried  to  the  smithy  and  with  a  eluh  irave  Iliek  a  hlow 
on  his  side,  that  almost  felled  liim.  Hick  turned  and  lifted  his 
arm:  ''TTcre,  man,  hit  that,  too."  The  fathei-'s  fury  f(dl  and  he 
went  awa\'  astonished.  ( )n  his  death-l)ed,  lu^  sent  for  Hick,  to  heir 
pardon.  "Pardon  thee  !  I  have  nothing  against  thee,  but  we  will 
pray  and  see  if  the  Lord  will  forgive  thee." 

The  man  died  in  hope ;  tlie  daughter  and  her  two  ehildren 
became  Christians. 

This  man  and  a  company  of  prayer  leaders  kept  aU  Yorkshire 
stirred,  and  for  fift}'  years  he  was  an  irrepressible  Lil)orer.  The 
diligence  of  his  strong  hand  made  him  rich,  and  ho  then  gave  all  his 
time  to  the  Gospel.  His  prayers  were  to  some  a  terror.  A  man 
proposed  to  knock  him  downi — he  dropped  on  his  knees  to  i)ray 
and  the  man  ran.  A  miser  r(!fused  to  <i'ive  anvthinij:'  to  the  mis- 
sionary  cause — Hick  began  to  pray.  The  miser  otI'(!red  him 
a  guinea  and  then  two,  "  if  thou  wilt  give  over,"  and  Hick  bore 
away  the  two  guineas  in  triumi)h. 

He  said  to  a -lew  :  'Tiless  the  Lord!   luu-e  is  a  tine  mornini>'."" 


Some  J\f('llt(>(list    Wdiiicn. — 77/''    ]^i//(i>/i'  JilKik.iiiiiili.      L*^il 


"It  ish  fiTV  tiiu>.  \'al  Ix' ti^  Ix'slit  m-ws  in  tc  city':'""  "  Tliiit  Josus 
Christ  is  imrdoiiiiiL,''  sinners  I"  '' Tull'  !in<l  iionslu-nsli  I  it  \A\  uU 
tc'lusion  I"'  r>iit  liis  kind  and  iVtink  manner  Avas  rarely  met  ho 
rndoly.  At  lliree-seoi-c;  lu^  died.  ()t'1]iis  vil!a!re  Maeksmilli  it 
iniirht  b(!  said  in  tlio  noblest  sense  : 

"  Toilinff ,  rejoicing,  sorrowing, 

Onward  through  lifo  ho  goes; 
Each  morning  sees  some  taslc  begin, 

Each  evening  sees  it  close; 
Sonietliing  atternpled,  something  done', 

II:i«  earned  a  iiifrht's  renose." 


(I'l|!| 


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in 


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nil 

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1,  ■  ■ 


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IJ  'I 


I1 

(a  I! 


•If! 


C'TTAPTER  ::xiii. 

At  thr  Brriinninrf  of  T/n's   Century. 

^K.C'()Ki:,Mlioloy!illylovo(ltlio 
Cluircli,   "svislicd   the  soi-icties 
to  be  hold  ;is  jiii  annex  or  ex- 
tension of  it.     In  Ills  view,  if 
the  Bisliojjs    Avoiild    ordain   a 
certain  nmnberot'  the  pi-eaeli- 
ers,  the  Mctliodists  -would  still 
■,  be    members    of    the    Xat  ional 
Church,    and    receive    the    sacra- 
ments on  its  authority.     He  urged 
that   this  was  the  true   policy  of 
"'-'Sll^  the  Church  itself.     The  societies 
had  now  half  a  million  of  attend- 
ants,   with  fixed  procedures  and  revenues. 
Tliey  were  rising  in  the  social    scale,    and 
one,   at  least,    Butterworth,    brother-in-law 
of  Adam  Clarke,  Avas  mend)er  of  Parliament. 
Reiection    •would    in    time    bring   about   a 
separation,    such    as  the  Church  could   not 
well   a  (lord.     Coke's  plea  Avas  declared  l)y 
the    Archbishop   of   Canterbury    "impolitic 
and  impossible."     To  .Vmerican  eyes,  the  clinging  of  the  Wesley- 
ans  to  the  National    Church    seems   strange.      Even    since   then" 
separation    from  it,  they   have  gone  no  farther  than  the  middle 
ground  lietween  Churchmen  and  Dissenters.     So  have  they  held 
the  strong  loyalty  inherited  from  AVesley  and  exemplified  by  Coke. 


if   '^ 


P"  i 


n 


^\(   the   JJc'linulinl   i'f  Th'i^    ( 'iiifi'i-il. 


L\s3 


Financial  troulilcs  now  arose.      The  allowance  to  >u|ierannnat('S 
liadlK  ])(>  increased.      A  society,  "  Preacliei's'  Friend,"  was  I'orined, 
l)y    ]>iitterworth    and    other    laymen,    for    aidiiiLT    ])rivately    and 
delicately  snch  as  ^vere  I'oiind  1o  Ite   in   special    need.      IJnl,   l)y 
helping    men    defectively  sn|)ported,   tlio    Conference    came    into 
(lol)t.      To  cU  ar  this  debt  oil",  !i  shilling'  Avas  asked  of  each  meiii- 
her.     The  response,  was  ])rom])t,  the  deht  was  swt'pt  away,  and  a 
chocrt'iil  eonlidonco  in  \\w.  lil)erality  of  the  nunuber.s  was  settled 
by  this  first  general  ai)peal.     It  now  l)eoaino  necessary  to  arrange 
for  the  legal  defense  of  tlu^  rights  of  the  societies.     A  "Committee 
of  Privileges*'  was  formed  of  two  pi-eachers  and  six  laymen,  with 
an  attorney.     These  advised  and  nianagiMl  all  lawsnifs,  and  this 
is  the  first  efl'eetnal  introduction  of  laymen  into  the  control  of 
^lethodism.     Then   lay  stewards  were   directed   to   advi.-o    and 
assist  in  the  settlement  of  circuit  finances.     So  the  entrance  of 
the  laymen  went  (juietly  on,  tmtil  to-day  in  iiap[)y  coiiperation  the 
laymcMi  have  in  the  system  all  the  power  they  desire. 

"  Shall  Women  be  allowed  to  ^jreach  among  us?"  It  was  found 
that  a  vast  majority  of  the  people  were  oi)j)osed  to  such  preach- 
ing, and  that  there  were  })reachers  enough  there.  Still,  with 
Dinah  Evans  before  them,  the  thing  coidd  not  be  flatly  refused. 
Tliey  might  pr(>aih  to  women  only,  extraordinarles  excepted,  and 
ill  the  circuit  of  their  residence  they  must  have  the  consent  of  the 
snporintendiMit  and  Quarterly  Conference,  nor  miglit  they  go  to 
another  circuit  without  the  written  invitation  of  its  superintendent 
and  the  consent  of  their  own. 

j\hiny  tried  and  well-worn  veterans  now  vanish  from  the  Con- 
ference, like  sails  from  the  horizon  of  the  sea.  Of  these  the  most 
interesting  is  Thomas  Olivers.  He  was  :i  "Welshman,  of  the 
grand  tyi)e  of  the  ancient  bards.  "The  God  of  Abraham  praise  !" 
will  tell  of  his  power  in  song.  IJut  his  depravity  was  dreadful. 
His  teacher  in  ])rofanity  could  in  A\'elsh  ])ut  twenty  or  thirty  oaths 


iiiilH 


m 


'  I 


itV 

nil 


■i    I 


It 


2H4 


'I  111',    Sini'i/    (if  ^finiiiiTif^ii\ . 


^ 


n 


:i'i 


into  <»lif.  Iil\c  llic  (ilTck  ciiliirdv.  Mini  ()Ii\frs  could  licltcr  the 
iii-l  I'licl  ion.  JIc  (•;iiii(!  into  lii>  Iwciitic-,  ii  liidcoiis  voiiiii.''  liioii- 
slcr,  \(  t  liv  ol'lcil  lliouiilit,  "1  li\('  .1  lliosj,  A\  I'clclicd  lil'c."  He 
tried  to  I'd'oriii.  Ho  siiw  that  it'  li(!  died  lie  slioidd  1:0  t(t  liidl. 
But  down  lie  went  lowci-  tli:m  ('\  t-r.  \\v  waiidci'i'd  to  l)ri>t()l  nnd 
stopped  with  a  drunken  ^Methodist,  ulioscj  Avilb  liad  once  Iteen 
rcliirious,  and  wIios(i  otlier  lodL-'er  amis  !i  ]»iiek>lidden  ^Nforaxian. 
In  this  lio[)et'nl  liomo  Olivers  "^ot  mad  at.  tlu;  .Morax  ian  and,  tor  an 
hour,  sworo  liis  utmost.  It  shocked  cx-eii  liis  landloi-d.  Insane 
"vvitli  sin  and  its  air'oiiy,  ()li\('i's  Avenl  to  hear  ^\'hitelleld  ])i'eaeh. 
That  one  sermon  did  lor  liim  \\\\\\\  "the  eartluiuake's  arm  ot'uiiglit 
did  foi"  the  Jailer  at  Pliilippi."  "Showers  of  tears  trickled  down 
mv  cheeks.*'  After  an  ai^onv  of  struiTirlcs  and  victories  lu^  I'ose 
out  of  th(!  (h'pths  to  a  ])nr(!  and  noI)le  life.  It  Avas  the  iilory  of 
tlu!  revival  that  it  reaclu'd  such  cases. 

OUa'ci's  proved  his  sincoritv  hv  imniodiato  etforts  to  rescuo  oth- 
crs.  lie  had  strange  experiences,  Druidical  A'isions  lik(;  "the 
dreamer,  ^Nlei'lin,  and  his  jn'ophecics,"  l)ut  hegot  Avell  of  all  these. 
His  couscieuco  hecanu;  clear,  his  lahors  Ahimdant  and  his  ad\-ent- 
ures,  told  in  his  own  lively  style,  I'cad  like  a  romance.  One  ot' 
his  crusades  avjis  foi-  ])ay:ng  uj)  old  dehts.  lie  Avent  to  every 
place  Avhere  he  owed  anything  and,  after  ])ayment,  he  preached. 
One  of  his  creditors  Avas  in  pris(jn,  and,  handing  him  the  Avclcome 
amount,  Olivers  gave  the  ^ii'isoncrs  a  sermon.  To  complete  these 
financial  adjustments,  he  sold  his  horse,  saddle  and  hridle,  and  got 
home  on  foot.  AVesley  needed  to  see  such  a  man  l)ut  once.  01- 
iA'crs  started  afoot  on  a  Cornwall  circuit.  A  lavnian  jrave  him  a 
horse  of  01iv(>rs'  own  choosing,  a  P)uce])halus  for  this  Alexander, 
on  which  he  rode  for  twi'utv  years  and  "a  hundred  thousand  miles 
comfortahlv.''  "Forty  and  six  Acars"  Avas  this  hravo  man  in 
preaching    serving    in   all   ])ai'ts   of   the    Kingdom.       Before   his 


Af  I  he  Jji'i/iiiiiiiiij  itj   This   Ct'nlui'ij, 


i^b 


\  II 


WB' 


(Icjitli,  liis  '•  (1()(|   ut'   Alir;ili:iin  "    \\;is   siiii'j-    iit     llic    S\  iiiiL'"n'j'ii('    in 
li<»ll<|nii,     ;iU(|     t()-(|;i\     "tllis     colli ilr|'"s  "'     liuillis     ;il'c     silliL'       ill     ;il| 

l.'iiiiis.       Siicli   ii   iiiiiii   Wiis    worth    s;i\iiii:',  ill  tiic   iiitncsts  of    lit- 
criitiirc.  ;il    Iciist. 

MMllicr  Tldppcr,  mikI  ntliors  r)f  AVosloy's  "llmndcriiiu'  Icifioii. ' 
now  (1i'()|)|)(m1  iiwiiy.  "Notliiiiii'  in  their  lilr  Im-cmiiic  tliciii  like  the 
IcMvinu'  ol"  it."  Their  power  unt'ohh'd  iis  they  took  their  llii:ht, 
.'iiul  it  was  not  strjinii'e  th.-it  such  souls  as  theirs  had  so  much 
stirred  the  worhl.  \\'hih'  these  were  " t renil)lini:'  at  the  i:al<'>  "I 
the  \\'est,"'  other  hiininaries  were  risiiiL""  in  the  Kast,  one  ot 
whom  was  to  l>e,  toi"  his  time,  lord  of  tlie  ascendant. 

As  lioanhnan  was  ahout  comini:'  to  America,  in  ITt!'.*,  he 
preached  at  Moiiyash,  a  little  place  in  Derhy shire,  on  the  i)rayer 
of  flahe/.  Mary  Ivcdfern  was  deeply  allected.  Years  after,  heini; 
the  wife  of  William  I>untinir,  she  immed  her  iirst-horn  ,Ial»e/,  in 
memory  of  the  sermon  and  in  irlow  of  h()])e  that  her  son's  career 
Miiii'lit  ])e  ''more  honorahle."  The  hlessinu'  of  the  au'ed  Wesley 
on  the  lad  at  ^lanchester  fell  on  him  like  a  i)i-ophet"s  mantle. 
In  childhood,  lie  was  shut  out  of  a  lo\-e-feast  and  his  mothei- 
vemlndcd  him  that  it  was  his  own  fault  :  he  had  not  sought  ("hrist. 
lie  laid  it  to  heai't  and  here  his  life  turned.  He  nave  all  dili- 
jioice  to  make  his  conversion  sure,  and  \n\  was  afterwards  as 
liiankful  for  Methodist  "discipline"'  as  "doctrine."  His  lirst 
"ticket"  had  for  its  text  that  prayer  of  flahe/  that  was  the  text  of 
the  sermon  so  marked  hy  his  mother  in  her  childhood. 

In  1798,  he  made  his  first  "exhortation"  in  .Manchester,  and 
in  the  same  ^•ear  he  preached  his  first  sermon  at  a  village  near 
hy,  worthily  called  Sodom.  Mr.  Wood,  afterwards  an  eminent 
layman,  hearing  this  sei'mon,  said,  half  a  century  later,  that 
Bunting  liad  never  preached  a  better  one. 

For  sixty  years,  during  which  he  was  upon  only  eight  difTerent 
circuits,  he  was  the  central   linure  of  JMiiilish    Methodism.     "The 


!!'!|!JJ    «^i' 


'   1 
\ 

\    ' 

!;,.V! 

■  1 1 1 1 

•.1,-11, 

'  1 

"•Of; 


III  i> 

ill  il 

iiil 


;1 


"■'i] 


'Vi 


M\- 


I  *'N 


ir^ 


ti 


!  1 
If  i 


S  / 


'.;  I 


2H<1 


y7/e  Sfoiy  of  MrfJi<i(l!sm. 


"\\'c.>lc\  Mils  liM\c  !i  I'opc  :  liis  iiJiiMc  is  .1m1)('/  r.uiitinu'."  A(  liis 
(Icalli,  lie  li.'iil  licliiiid  liiiii  II  |((iii>'  cMi'ccr  1)1'  iiiil»r(ik<!ii  ^i(•l()^y, 
lie  ii.'id  iiKist  dt"  flic  pcrsoiijil  '/\\'\<  (»r  ( iliidsloiic  aiid  !i  kconei 
iiisiglit  of  llic  jKtssiltilit ics  of  an  occasion. 


('  i 


Iti:v.  JAltEZ    IIL'NTI.NG,    D.    D 


if 


( 

11 

1 

t 

i  ■ 

1 

1 

'^ 

.    ,1 
1 

\ 


lie   was  tlie  first  man  elected  lo  the  Le;ual  Tlundrcd  ;   Ik;  wai^ 
four  times   its    j)residi>nt.    lillinu'   the   othce   lirst   after  Coke;  let: 


.1/   (}  <■    Ih'ii'mnht'i   itf  This    ('ciiftiri/. 


2.S7 


tiinos  its  socrctarv  iiiid,  .'ificr  ( 'okc  s  (Iratli,  ils  iiiissioiini'V  sccrc- 
tiiry,  wliicli,  iit'tcr  WmIsoh's  dcMtli,  lie  icsumkmI.  Xo  ihmii  cmii 
ket'p  !i  hiu'll  |)i;it('  in  u  L^'cat  or^'Miii/atioii  for  Imira  ccMtiiry.  iiispir- 
in<j  ils  iiiovciiicMts  iiiid  dirccliiiL''  its  policy,  unless  he  lias  lla? 
liiii'iu'st  ord'T  of  al>ilily.  Like  (Jladslone,  lUintin;^  \vas  stronir, 
of  ii()I)l(!  presence  and  clear,  niajeslic  voice.  Nolliintr  physical 
.s(UMued  laekinir  to  liivc;  the  world  assurance  of  a  man.  His 
^ipeoclies  were  usually  hriet";  his  sermons  Avere  not  specially  elo- 
quent, hut,  lake  him  for  all  in  all,  his  ahililies  and  IIkmisc  he  made 
of  them  juslitied  his  lifc-lonjj:  i)lace  of  i)owci'  among  "Knglish- 
mcn,  Christians,  Methodists.'' 

The  most  jjopular  preaclu^r  sinc*^  Whiteheld  was  IJolx-rt  N'ewton, 
the  last  of  lur  foui"  I'epi'esentat  iv(^  ^[ethodists  in  this  century. 
His  peoj)Ie  wei'e  jjlain  fanners  at  Koxhy  on  the  Voi'ksliire  coast. 
They  read  Xelscdfs  flouiMial  and  liked  it,  and  Xewton's  father 
liiriid  a  room  for  meetings  and  ])rocured  the  jjreaching  of  itiner- 
ants. H(!  was  re[)aid  in  his  own  hou-e.  His  eight  children  ho- 
caino  ^Methodists  and  four  sons  ellectual  preachers. 

It  was  during  the  Kilham  strugu'les  that  a  copious  revival  fell 
on  the  vtmerahlo  region  of  \\'hitl)y  and  JiolxM-t  was  Itrought  to 
(,'lirist.  At  eighteen,  lie  preached  his  tirst  sermon  in  a  cottage 
now  replaced  hy  a  chapel,  whose  pulpit  i.-'  precisely  where  young 
Xewton  stood  behind  a  chair  to  preach. 

He,  too,  like  Bunting,  had  such  personal  endowments  that  one 
felt  our  race  elevated  in  such  a  specimen.  He  was  tall  and  kingly 
of  bearing,  with  voice  of  Gladstoni;  or  (Jambetta.  In  the  pulpit, 
or  out  of  it,  the  same  excellency  of  power  which  is  not  of  man, 
or  among  natural  gifts,  but  which  is  in  man  from  the  Holy  Ghost, 
attended  hun  like  an  atmosphere.  The  connnon  people  heard  him 
gladly,  and,  even  in  the  days  of  Daniel  O'Connell,  Xewton  was 
addressing  more  people  than  any  man  in  Great  Hritain.  His  plat- 
form speeches  were  extemporaneous.    Ilis  sermons  were  Avritten, 


\i 


•rj    ♦ 


■11 


I  III' 


iiiiil 


if". 


II 


••I  I 

'  urn 


•..  tai 


II 


88 


The    Sim-,/   ()/■  M,  tl,,),l 


tSlll, 


It  (lcli\  I'lTil  w  itiioiit  MKiim-rriiil.      lie  \v;i->  fmi  \  vt-ai's ///*    Met 


H>- 


it'f-.  ;il  (Ictlu'iil  loii^.  oil  i'\  t'r\ 


ial  ona-^'um,  lie  wa--  in  di'iiiaiul  in  rit\  anil  riiunli-\  aliki".      \\'hilo 


i!ii:!i:i!r  si;\\  ro\,  v.  u. 


Wat. 


•o\\  nianaiiinl  llio  details   (\(  Hie  Missionnrv  Soe'u>tv,  as  did 


Biiiilinu-  at'ter  him,  Newton  was   its  advoeate  in  tlu<  lield.      W'\wn 
ho  iK'uaii  his  iDUiT  eareer  as  solieitor  al)road,  in  its  hehali',  it  had 


.  I''     (in      li*    llilililll     "t      rills     ('uif 


Kl-'l . 


-'Sl> 


til'lv  iiii-.-UMiaiic^  mill  -i'\  >Miimi  llitiii^Miul  iii  iiu'iiilu-i'-liip.  Al  In-; 
(It'Mlli,  lIu'iT  wiTi"  lliit't-  liuihlrril  ;iiiil  lit'l\  iui->it>li;irii'^  »ihl  vHii* 
liiliulrrd  lliiiii-;iml  iiu'tiilu'r^.  New  Inn  hil>"i'("il  lil"l  \ -li\  c  \  i'ii,-->  aiul, 
:it  \\'\-  iK'alli,  ill   1  "^.^  I .  Ill'  wa^  -lill  "llir  nKl  man  I'lmnu'iit ." 

(  M'  llii'^c  [\n\v  iii'i-al  N\  i'-li'\  aii-<  nl"  lUir  cciil  iii'\  ,  we  -^I'l"  lliat 
carli  had  >i)iiu' -^p-'ciallx  nl"  ralliiii:'.  Ailam  ('larUr  wa^-  llic  -M'liolai" 
aiiil  roiiiuuMilali'r  :  \\  atxiu,  tlic  tlifi>li<i:iaii  ;  r>iiiil  iiiu'.  llir  priiiu' 
iniiii->tt'r.  aiul  Ncwloii,  llir  oi'ator  TIiimt  \\a->  no  ri\alrv  aiupni;' 
llit'iii  ;  iin  >lfit'i'  o(  iu'r>i>iial  amliitinii.  Marli  dimply  iiiaili'  tlu» 
nio-I  of  \\lial  wa'^  liInimi  Iiiiii  tViuii  al>i>\t',  and  llicy  liai'iuoiii/.oil  in 
iluiractcr  and  arliou  liUc  tlic  atTiini|iaii\  iiiu'  parls  nf  ^luno  -^wrt'l, 
>ari't'd  lianiiony.  rdauu-lf^s  and  lianuK'->s.  ilicy  luiill  iip  llu'ir 
licloxi'd  -^y-^lt'iu.  likr  tlio  walls  ol"  Tlirlu's,  \o  tju-  >iMind  nl"  licaviMiiy 
uui^ir. 

(hlu-r  nuMi  i»t"  iiTcat  luri'it  laluift'd  will;  tlu'iii.  l>a\v>iMi  aiul 
Sa\  ilK'  lnH'aiiu'  lai'-kiiDW  n  and  rirccl  i*  <>  Knal  iirraclicfs.  Tlu'N  , 
liki'  llii'k,  \vt'rt>  plain,  srlt-^iiiipnrl  inu'  iiu'ii  ;  haw  >on,  a  taniuM".  and 
>a\  illi'.  a  tniiici'.  Tlu'V  a>soi'iali'd  with  llic  ho'-I,  whiK"  llu'V  had 
powor  with  llu>  K>w  ^■^l ,  I'lassi's.  MfamvliiK",  \i\\k\[  n'\i\al>  (>(.■- 
lUi'i'cd. 

\[  Tn'adt'ord,  tor  thi't'i'  nuuiths,  llu>  ihaptd  dimf  stood  open 
niiiht  and  liay,  and  siirh  wa>  tlio  pros^uro  ot"  awakiMu-d  pt'o[)K> 
that  no  priMchinu"  w  as  had.  All  the  tiiiu>  was  <j;i\t>n  io  [iraycr, 
(.oint'ort  and  I'ounsid,  Nino  hiiiidfiHl  pi>rsons  wiu'c  rtH'oivcd  info 
till'  xH'it'ty.  Missions  wrn-  1h';j,iiii  in  iho  tiltsiaircr  parts  i)t'  \\'ah's 
and  >oon  a  thousand  nuMulu'fs  were  vt'portt'd.  Amid  thi>('aiu- 
hrian  siu>ws,  as  no  house  oould  hohl  tho  ronuroiiat it)ns,  (lu* 
prcai'hiuii'  ^vas  in  tlu'  opou  air,  oven  in  tho  nuU\  wintiy  woathor. 
So  \\  I'sji'vanisiu  Li'i't'w  . 

In  1S(),"»,  it  rouiitt>d  in  the  Kinii'dom  t'oiir  hundred  and  Ihirty- 
(liri'o  prt'ai'hcrs  and  Olio  luindi'i'd  and  twonly  tliou>and  luoiiiln'fs. 
As  wo  shall  soo,  it  was  assuinini:'  a  national  iniportaiioi>  ami  ilrow 
tlio  noti''o  ot'  statot^iuon. 


^m 


iM»U«| 


n 


II 

...ft! 


t   ' 


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J  .«• 


■» 


'  i     '< 
I 

1          ■  ' 

r!    ' 

CIIAJTKIJ  XXTV 


MpfJiofJisi//   mill  III-  Sidle  Church. 


^    tlio  Wpslcyan   Bodj 

urcw,  iho  Lciial  Jluiulrcd 

ciime   to   1)0  of  growiuiT 

importaiK'c     In    1.S14,    it 

was  the  ruliiiir  center  of  a 

Uiitlioriiur  of  eiglit  liundred 

and  f()i'1v-t\vo  preaeliei-s,  and 

^^   il    needed   lo    Ix'    of  ilic    l),.>t 

available  talent.      H  itliert  c 


I* 


^Ii  ihiiil i.'iiii    Oin/   ///r   fSUid-    Cli<n'cl> 


2111 


>ln 


Suiidius,  ciuiiuMit  Livincu,  were  ol'  its  first  ]»iitrons.  The  Soeic- 
\y  collected  thirteen  hiiiidivd  pounds  for  its  earliest  needs.  The 
i;i[)id  liTowth  of  the  ('onneetioii,  niMUinii'  eidl  foi-  new  chapels,  led, 


llCtK 


JOSEPH  UKNSON. 


ill  L'^OSjto  the  creation  of  tlie  Chapel  Fund,  of  Avhich  the  Exten- 
i^ioii  Soeioty  is.  in  tliis  country,  a  reproduction. 

I'lifricultic.g  of  a  new  soi't  now  arose.     They  wore  not  wholly 
imcxi)octed.     In  1810,  Southcy,  who  had  studied  Wesley  and  his 


n 


4 


M 


"'  n  'I 


\''\ 


\\\  •    t 


;l    ; 


TT 


n 


'A' 


t 

1 

1 

1    ■< 

!' 

1 

' 

292 


T//e  Sf(»7\>/  of  Method  Ism. 


Avorks  111  no  l'iivonil)lo  iiiiiul,  liad  in  llio  Qnurterli/  Itevieiu  a 
severe  iirlicle  agaiiisl  ^Mctliodi.siu.  lie  i)redicti'(l  lliiit  the  AVesley- 
iiiis  would  soon  l)e  able  1o  sul)V('rl  llu;  Xational  Church  and  would 
not  scruple  1o  do  so,  and  would  e\<'n  lay  hands  on  llu;  jj^ovcrn- 
nieni  of  Ihe  country.  TIcM-ould  not  iiiime  one  disloyal  iset  of  wliicli 
in  all  llicir  suflei-inii's  1h(>  iireachers  had  hemi  uuiltv.  A\']iile  la; 
wrote,  Xewlon  was  (lisal)usin_ir  tlu^  pojjular  mind,  not  only  of 
Paine's  inlidelity,  hut  also  of  his  anarchism.  Yet  Southey  was 
uman  of  genius  and  he  loved  a  stai'tlinii'  theme. 

Statesmen  looked  around.  Lord  Sidmouth  and  other  poli* 
ticiuns,  and  evenA\'ill)erforee,  W(;re  alarmed  at  the  facts  presented. 
They  found  that  Dissenters  .and  AVesleyans  had  in  the  Kingdom 
twelve  thousand  one  hundred  and  sixty-one  licensed  chapels  and 
rooms  for  A^'orship,  and  that  in  parishes  of  more  than  a  thousand 
pe()[)le  these  hodies  had  nine  hundred  and  ten  churches  and 
chapels,  more  than  the  Establishment.  High  Churchmen  and 
Aristocrats  resolved  to  crush  the  growing  danger.  Sidmouth 
introduced  a  Bill  in  Parliament,  such  as  was  worthy  of  darker 
ages.  It  conceded  to  the  Wesleyans  the  right  of  members  ot 
their  Conference  to  })reach,  but  it  struck  off  all  lay  workers. 
That  is,  local  preachers,  exhorters,  leaders  and  even  Sunday- 
school  teachers  were  to  be  silenced  on  pain  of  imprisonment. 
Thousands  of  the  best  peo})le  in  England,  who  were  laboring 
to  do  their  countrymen  all  the  g.)od  in  their  power,  Avere  to  l)i' 
shut  of  their  dearest  liberty.  Southey  wrote  the  article  in 
Satan's  interest.  It  would  have  drawn  little  notice,  only  tiiat 
the  wild  connnotions  of  France  mtide  leading  Englishmen  more 
than  ever  afraid  of  the  misuse  of  strength  by  the  people. 

The  effective  character  of  the  Weslcyan  organization  appear.^. 
Its  Connnittee  of  l*ri\ileg{'s,  two  of  whom  Avere  members  of  Par- 
liament, n'monstrated  with  Sidmouth  in  vain,  i)ut  secured  an 
advocate  in  Lord  Erskine.     ^I(;ainvhile,  districts  and  circuits  Avcre 


!ir 


Methoil 


iKni    I 


nii7  the   Shiip   CJiHirh 


2m 


of 

MS. 

uiy- 

Mlt. 

riiii.' 
o  Ix' 
e  ill 
Hint 
noi'o 

•ar>. 
Piir- 

A'cre 


astir  ill  1(1  pclitioiis  were  proscntcd  tVom  every  psiit  of  llio  realm, 
(if  whose  siii'iiei's  \\\w\  Staiili()})(!  said  that  their  thousaiuls  luiulit 
easily  l)eeoiu(i  iiiillioiis.  Hrskiiu;  iiiadi;  a  strong  .speech  against 
llie  1)111   and   it    tailed,   to  the   iii'cat    )(>\'  of  all  lovers  of  reliirlons 


tVee(loni  in  the   land.      Dissenters  of  all  na 


nies  o\vne( 


I  tl 


leir 


deht 


1()  the   AN'eslcyan  Coiuniiltec!  of  Privileges,  who  had  taken  with 
eourage  the  lead  and  hrunt  of  tlu^  stnigirlt;. 

Then  came  anotluu'  attack  aimed  at  tlu^  AVesleyjins  alone.  It 
was  held  that  tlu^  old  Toleration  .\et  applied  only  to  sneh  as  were 
pastors  of  siiiijh'  eongregaticuis.  This  Avonld  have  s\ve])t  uway 
the  itineranev  at  one  stroke.  l>y  this  eonstruin<r,  refnsal  of 
license  to  itinerants  and  local   preachers  Ix^gan  at  onee.     Therci 


il 


d: 


al,   \\w  Pri 


!Minist( 


was  real  cause  lor  alarm.  I'ereivai,  \\w  J  rime  .Minister,  Mas  a 
High  Churchman,  hut  he  saw  tin;  peril  of  such  injustice  and  gave 
a  hearing  to  the  Connnittee  of  Privileges.  Tlu;  Dissenters  rallied 
to  tlu!  support  of  the  A\'esleyans.  The  result  was  complete 
victory.  l>y  Act  of  I'arliament,  all  the  old  harharisms,  tlu;  Five- 
luih'  .Vet,  the  Conv(!nticle  Act  and  the  like,  went  to  tlu;  hottoni 
pit,  and  religious  freedom  in  England  came  to  he  all  one  could 
rcjasonahlv  desire. 

In  1H12,  the  Conference  thankcid  the  Committee,  and  issued  to 
tlu^  societies  an  address  calling  for  thanksgiving.  It  procured 
oui'  of  the  most  important  movements  in  the  whole  course  of 
religious  lihertv  in  the  land. 

In  l-Sl'),  the  Methodists  of  the  liritish  Islands  Averc  two  hundred 
and  thirtv-one  thousand,  haviiiii'  for  ten  vears  *rained  ahout  niiu; 
thousand  ji  year.  Their  preachers  were  nine  hundred  and  forty- 
two.  In  a  quarter  of  a  centurv — i.  e.,  since  AVeslev's  death,  thev 
had  trehled  their  numhers.  Statesmen  might  Avell  look  with  in- 
terest and  respect  on  such  a  ])henomen()n,  hut  theri;  was  nothing 
to  fear.  They  were  the  hest  of  citizens,  the  truest  of  patriots, 
though  they  knew  their  rights,  and.  "knowing,  dared  maintam/ 


•  I* 


I  Mill)' 


■ 

1 

i 

' 

'5 

1    < 

■is    I  i 

■\\v 


i 

f 

f  ■ 

\ 

i 

;■ 

I 

1 

1  u 


f 


i 


]  I 


!'!• 


'.I'll!    S'lii'i/   "/'  ^IiIIkkI I'siii. 


The  .'imi;il>  of  M('lli()(li-iii  were  s(  111  iidoi'iicil  with  iiicu  mikI  woin- 


en  ol'    liiiili,     lici'dif    clmi'lictrr  ;i 


ml  ("irt'cr 


lldlUII- 


'I'hoi 


llpSdII,    dl' 


Hull,  was  M  liiiiiililc  r;iriiici''>  xiii.      ^^'ill)(M•l(ll•(•(•.  wlio  li\C(l  in  llinl 
rcii'ioii,  iiiMrkrd  his  vouiil;'  merit  mid  took  him  into  his  lioiiscliold. 
11(1  j'oso    r:ij)idlv.  Iiccmiiic  :i  Iciid^ci',  !i  iiiiiii  of  roi'iiiiic  Miid  a  m    .1- 
IxT  ol'  Pai'liamciil,  doiiiii"  religion  Inic  and  loyal  s('r\icc.      At  his 
expense,  the  llolderness  Mission  was  eslal)lished  and  here  was  the 
]a>t  of  those  heroic  s( ruiiL:ies  on  IJrilish  soil  which  our  Story  will 
recount.     A   youni^'  man   ol"  lalenl    and  cnllure   Ix-ean  the  work. 
IIcMuet  unniercilul   persecution.     \\   his  meet inii's  l'\-  niiiht  spar- 
rows AVCM'e  lei  loose  lopul  out  llic  liu'hls.  ihe  doors  were  I'asleiied, 
and  lunu>  of  assalu'lida  lilown  in  upon  llu^  conu'i'euations.      1  )riven 
iVom  one;   })lace,  \\n\  younu'  man   w cnl  I0  anolher.     The  rector  of 
lions  was  also  a  ina:i:istrate  and  oncouraL''('d  the  rioter>.      I'nder 
Ills  inlluencc,  no  man  would  stand  hy  the,  ])reacher  or  testily  for 
liiin  in  court.     !Maiiy  e\-en  appeared  airainst  him.     Then  ho  })ec'aine 
his  own  witness  and  advocate,  and  so  set  forth  his  ei'rand  and  his 
acts  that  the  ])resi(linu'  Judiic  nave  the  rei'tor,  who  sat  l>v  his  side, 
U  sharp  rei)i"imand,  and  the  missionary  thereafter  had  legal  protec- 
tion.    Of  liar(lshij)s   in  food,    loduinii'  and  labor,    the    Avayfaring 
evanirplist  had  still  a  uoodlv  share.     JNlore  than  one  homo  mission- 
ary  now  drank  of  the  cup  ])ressed  to  the  lips  of  Wesley  and  his 
lal)orors  two  generations  hofore,  but  1)V  faith  and  patience  they 
gained  the  same  victoiMt's  on  a  less  conspicuous  scale. 

Tho  i)roachors  of  the  tiist  times  Avoro  now  gone.      Of  their  im- 


mc 


diat 


e  suceessoi's,  tew  w 


ere  now  in  s(M'vice,  but  thev  were  allowed 


to  see,  in  IM  t,  the  greatest  revival  on  record.  It  was  in  Corn  wall, 
and  extended  from  1'ruro  through  the  peninsula — foi'ty  miles. 
In  some  parishes  hardly  ten  were  unvisited  by  inlluences  of  grace. 
Some  chapels  were  occupied  for  four  weeks,  night  and  day,  and 
sometimes  forty  ])ersons  were  added  to  the  s('c)<>ty  in  one  i\\\\ . 
In  the  caverns  of  thi'  mines,  in  the  smelters  and  all   w(M'k-houses, 


Method isiii    (iinl    lln     Slufr    ('Inirch, 


_. '.» 


t< 


])r;i\«  ;•  Mild  ])riii-('  were  liciird.  A  ln';i\ mly  Ihtc/c  1»1c\v  nvrr  iho 
rcLi'iitii  ;iii(l  l>r<>iiL;lit  IicmHiiu' dii  its  w  in;^--.  J  )riiiik;ir(U  liccniiic  tciii- 
j»('r:il('.  llic   ])r(>l;iii('   Ix-caiiie   devout    iiiid   tlio   fli;ir;n'trr  of    wlmlc 


.lOSKl'U  IJVKSKV,  TIIK  IlKST  TKLTUTALKIJ. 

iii'i^iiiltorhoods  w:is  cliniiiicd.  l-'it't y-t  wo  liuiidrcd  M-cro  added  to 
till'  >i\  circuits  most  louclicd  liy  llie  uTcat  work.  It  is  worth  notice 
lli:it  ill  these  times  one  liears  of  the  ch'are>t  and   siniph'st    teatlier 


Ili'lH 

I  it.ii'l 


'';■' 


ml' 
If 


■   i    ' 

ii:.!f 


^'-  ■■■'  \ 


,  I 


t : 


T 


2'J*'" 


77//'     Shii'i/    III'    Ml  l/indisiil 


Iv  ?  , 


■  1  '■  ^'\  ' 


dl'  till-  I'liilli  lliiit   liii^  yd  ;i|ii)t':ir('(|  in  Mctliodi-iu.      It  w  :i>  >\'iHi;iiii 

(';ir\(i~-<>.      lie   \\;i<:i  iMi'iiicr  niul  li-iicriii;iii  mi  I  lie  ( 'onii-li  fon^t , 

Mild  \\:i^  iiji  In  till'  -liimliird  ol' | jroliciciicy  in  llu'  \  icc->  ot'    hi-  day. 

Hi-  >!-l<'r,    liciiiij-  coin crlcil  niiinii;^-  llic   M('lli(idi>t<.  caiiii'  twchc 

mile-    1o    tell    licr    I'aiiiily.      Slir    iiidiicrd    ^^'illialll    to   ;:d   to  t'lc 

prracliiiiL:".      II<'    was    dcfply   coiu  ictcd.    i^axc   up    all    \  ices,    and 

al'tcr    iiiiicli    ii'ii)iilalioii    lu'  entered    into  tin;    Kingdom  ol'   (lod. 

He    eainti    lo     love     the 

Sa  \-  i  oil  r    with    all    Ids 

heart,  and  to  his   death, 

at  eighty-tiN'e,  lie  walked 

in  the  light .      lieino\  ing 

to  !i  i'arni,  "  a  mere  (h's- 

ert,"]iear  "aleelde,  tles- 

titut(}  chis.s,"  he  entered 

with  hirgo    views  u[)()ii 

the  ear(^  ot'  hotli.     His 

liard    I'ai'm     yielded    to 

Aviso  !ind  diligenl   treat- 

iiicnt,  so  that  he  heeamo 

ublo  to  live  without  })er- 

sonal  lal)or,  and  to  give 

Ids    whoh^  time    to    the 

t'Lissos.     \'erdure  broke 

out  in  dry  phiees.     Some 

of  liis  ueiglihois  weri^  converted;  soon  he  had  two  hirge  classes, 

and  then  !i  ehajxd  "of  Ids  own  l)uilding  or  begging."     His  family 

Avcro  converted  :  the  cliaixd  was  replaced  by  ;i  hirger,  and  the  Avork 

dear  to  tlie  great  class  h-ader's  heart  "went  prosj)erously.     Then 

came  the  revival  of  vvliich  we  liave  just  been  tcdling.      "  I  call  it  a 

'gh)ri()us  revival"  :    'such  as  my  eyes  nev«'r  saw  before.""' 

Ilissocietv.  of  which  wi!  noticed  the  small  beu'inidiiL:'.  hecanit 


WULUAM  CARV0S80. 


^I<^lJonl!siii    (I ml  (he    SIdtc    (Jlnirdi. 


21)7 


two    luilull'C'l,  Mild    (if   il-    cln^x's    he    took    llirt'c.       I  Iciici'Tol  ill,  lio 

Cfnvo  liiiiisclt' w liolh'  1o  llic  siTvicc  of  rcliiiioii  nnd  "woiil  iihoiil 
(loiiiLl"  si'ood  "  ill  ;i  st  ill-liiiul  iiiLi' st  \  li'.  "I  iiui  ;i  tcadicr.  1iiit  not 
;i  jifcaclicr :  tlinl  is  :i  work  1o  wliirli  (ioil  \\\\<,  not  cullcil  inc."' 
'rciiclicr  lie  \vii>,  ill  tlial  ln'  knew  wlial  lie  1:iiii;l!t.  wa^  coiiN  iiiccd 
of  its  value,  t-oiild  adapt  i<  lor  cut  raiicc  into  tlic  minds  ot"  otluTs, 
and  could  urii'c  it  witli  jicrsonal  t'orcc  and  vivafily. 

To  this,  wliicli  makes  a  Icaclicr,  was  added  llie  divine  iiilluenco. 
His  soul  Avas  always  overl"ull,  and  eonuiioii  ('liri>lian  ])lirascs  locdv 
lllow  and  eiiei'ii'N'  from  liim.  .\t  middle  aii'e.  lie  leariie(l  to  wi'ite,  so 
as  to  guide  souls  in  the  path  ot"  life  wheu  lie  eould  no  louuci"  visit 
lliem. 

In  sliorl,  lie  was  llie  iiiodel  of  idass  leaders.  Durinir  hie 
career,  ^lelluKlism  in  his  circuit  increased  on  ihe  ^vhole  about 
sevenfold,  and  of  this  increase  a  large  credit  is  assigned  to  his  la- 
bors. Ilis  life  is  still  read  far  and  widi;  by  those  who  are  lejirn- 
ini;  the  art  of  whii-h  he  was  master. 

Durinij  these  vears  was  held  the  lirst  Kuiilish  camp-nieetinir. 
Lorenzo  Dow,  an  eccentric  but  zealous  prt'acher  of  \'ermont.  had 
niadc^  liis  wav  to  Stallordshire.  (^imn-meetinii's  were  uset"ul  in 
tlio  thiiily-})eoj)led  regions  of  the  United  States.  He  raised  u 
tlag  on  ]\Iow  Hill  and  called  the  peo[)le  to  theii'  tents.  The  new 
institution  Avas  blessed  "with  usefulness,  and  others  followed. 
These  were  of  doubtful  a<lvantag(>  and,  on  the  whole,  the  camp- 
meetings  seemed  not  <]uite  desirable  on  the  closcly-i)acke«l  soil  of 
England.  After  some  debate,  the  Conferences  decdared  them  im- 
[iruper.  Still  they  werc^  hcdd,  and  T>ourne.  a  leading  layman,  was 
('\l)ell(Ml  from  his  society  for  his  ])ersist(mce  in  sustaining  them. 
Clowes,  a  local  preacher,  was  tor  the  same  reason  exjxdled.  The 
latter  then  gave  up  his  business.  He  began  as  a  home  mission- 
ary. Other  men  came  to  his  help.  They  gleaned  in  the  high- 
ways   and    market-places    and,    for    local     reasons,    t went \-eight 


r      J 


li  ili 

t 

) 
■■'"li  ■  i 

•Ulf        ] 

m 


l! ! 


,1  r 


Iki  I 
"Ml 


-?: 


\  :-\ 


(  ;■ 


1 


T 


I    ■; 


I 


" 


11 


i: 


'  I'll 


2!)8 


y/zr    Slitfi/   of  MillintI Ishi , 


))i'('ii<'li('rs  iuid   sixteen   circuits  Joined   liiin.     Tlins,  in  L'^IO,  was 
lonncd  a  new  denoininat  ion,  "  The  I'riniitive  Methodists." 

They    have    jii-t    held,    in     Dcrliy,    tlieii"    Sixty-seventli     Coii- 
forcnci!,  !i  hody  composed  oC  one-tliird  ])roac'hcrs  and  two-tiiii'tls 


WILLIAM  CLOWES. 

lajmon.  Next  to  the  AVesleyans,  they  arc  the  largest  Methodist 
hodv  in  En<>land,  having  now  one  thousand  and  fortv-tln-ee  st;i- 
tioned  })reachei's  and  one  lumdrcd  and  ninoty-oni^  thousand   >ix 


M'-Uutdis,,i  a)i(l  tilt!  iSidte  Clnn'rl, 


I'll!) 


hundred  jind  inrlv-oiic  iiK'iiilx'i's.      Al  tlic  lute  ( 'oiitbrciicc,  Isst!, 


<]> 


M'V  coiiipliiiMcd  of  a 


t<'iid 


cncy  lo  ( 'oii^^rcjiJitioiialisiir*  Iiy  tni-iii 


iiiLi"  !i  circuit  "willi  oiu^  cliapcl  aiwl  one  ]ii'caclicr.'"  Tlicy  liavo 
ol'tcn  Ix'cii,  iVoiii  Ili(^  stir  tlicy  iiial\(!  in  tlicir  rcliirious  services, 
called  Kanters.  'IMieir  \V(trk  lias  been  cliietly  aniontr  tlie  lower 
classes.  'I'liey  have  hcen  an  act  i\ c,  usel'id  people.  l)ni'in,!j:'  this 
last  year,  tlu  v  havo  issued  two  niillioMs  of  ItooUs  and  ina<ra/ines. 
Their  Quarterly  and  six  monthly  niai:a/in«'s  art;  of  excellent 
quality.  How  stranu'e  that  a  disliUe  of  J)ow''s  cainp-iueistinijs 
shouM  result  in  (h'Vclopinu'  such  a  ])e()ple  I 

Mary  r>c)san(iu:'t  Fletcher  had   now  outlived,   by  thirty  ye.'irs, 
her  .saintly  Inishand.     Sho  believed  that  his  spii'ii  was  yet  in  fcd- 
lo\vshi[)  "with  hei's.     Shu  })r()secuted  tho  "woi'ks  in  ;vhich  ho  had 
bcoiiinterestod,  and  lier  hoinii  at  Mach'lcy  was  the  center  of  Chris- 
tian h()S})itality,  })rayer  and  convei'se,  through  nil  Inu*  life's  sunny 
afternoon.     >Sho  connnoniorated  in  a  pious  "way  her  Aveddin<r-day 
and  her  husband's  death.     On  Dec.  i),  l^lf),  "tho  l)est  year  of  all 
my   life,"  sho  died  in  calm,  sweet  silence.      Of  her  charities, 
cnoujrhinay  bo  known  froin  tho  fact  that,  on  herself,  she  spent  in 
ono  year  twcnty-tivo  dollars,  and  on  her  charities  over  nine  hun- 
dred dollars,  aiid  so  ran  her  accounts  for  many  years.     This  year, 
too,  died  the  good  Lady  IVlary  Fitzgerald.     She  was  of  the  highest 
rsmk,  three  of  her  brothers  in  succession  being  Earls  of  Bristol. 
Iler  hus])and  "W^as  an  Karl,  from  whom,  for  his  vices,  the  House  of 
Lords  granted  her  a  divorce.    8he  turned  from  tho  gay,  sad  woi'ld 
and,  according  to  her  larger  means,  followed  ^NFrs.  Fletcher.     Iler 
rank  imposed  style  and  expenditure,  but  she  was  a  faithful  mem- 
ber of  a  society  and.  at  death,  wished  burial  withAIi's.  AVesley,  at 
Citv  I\oad  Yard,  rather  than  with  tlic  Earls  and  Ladies  of  her 
ancesti'V. 

For  some   years  after  the  death  of  these  ladies,  there  followed 
like  departures  of  men  named  in  earlier  parts  of  our  Story.     Of 


MMM 


i| 


i 

I 

iiv  !  > 


u. 


Mil 

Of  j! 


mt 


T 


noil 


T/io  iStoi'ij  '_'/'  Ml iliitilisiii. 


tlicsc,  mil'  AiiH'riciiii  rciidfr-  will  liiirdly  r!ir<'  In  liciir  |»;irl  iciilnrlv, 
.-(•('iiiir   thill  "^n  iiiiicli    i^  l<>  III'  >!iii|  III"  .Mc||iii(li-iii    III   liiiiiiit    ill  our 

own   ImikI.       TIm-  tniir  LTi  III    IcMilt'l's  were   in   I'llll  :ir(i\ily.       The  rM- 

"  I  niii>t  liiijc  ni\  licMil  ill  til*' 


('>! .  Adniii  (  'l;i.')\t'.  \\  ;is  w  f.'iriiiL;'  oiil 


couiil  y\  .  Ill'    il    w  I 
<lii:' 


II 


Idl'l  l\     lie    liiddcli   III   I  lie     L:r:i\  i' 


II 


IS  iiro- 


(litiKiii-  liliTiirN    l.iliors   liiid  Im'cii  rciiiinicnil  i\  r,  miuIIic  ikiw   s( 


Itlcd 


(Ml  Mil  csImIc    iit'iir    Liverpool    Mini    llinicr  iik'kIc  >Mlli('>  tor   •^crx  icf 
ill    ('\<'r\'    tliri'ttioii.       ]!(•   also,    there,    ediicMletl    two    lUiddliist 


1 


iriesi 


In    l.'^h'i,  lie  Ascnt  to  his  home   in    Ireland.      In   tbrtv    \eMr>.  ho 


liad  lieeoiiiea  straiiu'er,  and  none  ol"  his  kin  were  there,  hut  he  saw 
the  haru  where  li(>  had  first  heard  Methodist  jireaehinj:',  and  tlu; 
spot  ill  a  lield  where  ])eaee  eaiiie  to  his  soul.  Presidiii«:'  at  the 
Il'ish  ( 'oiil'ei'eiiee  ol'  that  year,  he  I'ouiid  il  dehatinu'  the  old  (|Ues- 
lioii  of  the  saeraiueiits.  Alaiiy  intlueiitial  laymen  were  opposed  to 
llie  demand  from  the  rest  of  IIk^  laily  that  they  receive  these  from 
the  hands  of  their  own  ])Mstors.  With  these  iMlter.  Chirke  syiniia- 
thi/('(l,  and  tin;  inaiorit\-  of  tlu^  ( 'ont'ereiiee  decided  in  their  favor. 


A  .scl 


lisiu  at  onco  followcn 


'V\w  J*riniili\('  Methodists  of  In 


land."  lakinii"  the  name  and  iiothiiii''  more  from  tliosc^  of  Eiiu'land, 
formed  a  new  liody,  and  a  third  of  the  Irish  Aletliodists,  ahoutteii 
thousand,  Avent  w  itii  them.  They  diller  from  the  \\'esleyaiis  in 
nothinii'  hut  that  they  count  their  own  pastors  as  simple;  laymen, 
and  take  the  sacraments  at  the  clmrclios  only.     The  preachers  aiu 


I 


lavnien  arc  associated  in  tho  irovernment  of  the  societie 


liev 


111 


nunincr   now    ahouL 


lift 


een 


thousand.     ^A'o    noticed    what   me 


founded  ]\retli()disni  in  Ireland  and  Avitlv  what  labors  and  sufl'er- 
in<rs.  For  twontA'-two  years  atYer  A^'csle\■"s  death.  Coke  presided 
at  its  Conferences  and  lavished  his  lahors  there.  Irish  preachers 
ere  raised  no  sh)Avl  v  and,  aftcrthirt  \'  rears,  there  Avere  hnt  tw(>l\e. 


Wi 


lip 

Then  Ireland  1tei:an  to  send  men  to  Kniiland — AValsh,   .Vdam 
Chirke,  Moore  and  Thompson.     ^leanAvhile,  the  "  liebellion  "'  came 


*iS' 


j\f('f/i()(/ls/ii  and  till'  >Sfiif<.'   (Jhiirili 


'M)\ 


oil.  III  uliicli  Jill  PfdlcslMiits  siiHri-cd,  Mini  llii-  .MctlKidlsls.  \\  ho  were 
l)rrMlia('(l  to  1m'  IovmI  lo  l-iiiLiliJid,  MlU'd'cd  Wdiv-I   (tt'.'lll.      TIk^   lii^- 

So  iitli'i'K-  licrrc  Mild  linital 


loj'ics  of  lli(>  lime  1(11  of  jiw  I'lil 


■"CClir 


\\ 


(M'c  Ili(^  iiisiiri:'»'ii(s  IIimI,  to  (liisdMN ,  11 


H'  iKinii 


1    1  TMlliliollS   Mircci    lllC 


politics  (il'Iri-Ii  .M('tIio(li>1s,  mi  id  Hi  is  very  session — 1SS7 — isniMrkt-d 
ity  violciil  lloiiic  iJiilc  dcliMli'.  A  loyal  Aldliodisl  hud  iVoiii  his 
Iti'ollicr  sccri't  news  lliat  Duhliii  nvms  to  hv  sacked.  'IMit'  news  eii- 
al)l('(l  \\\Vi  liord  liieiitenanl  lo  defend  the  city.  lie  uralefiilly 
granted  to  Ihi^  ( 'onfei'eiiee  and  lo  llie  individiiMl  preachers  cNcry 
])rivilege  and  all  tlm  ])ro1ec1ion   in  liis   power.      This  ( 'oiiferenee 


)rovi( 


led 


II  mission 


to   1h 


w 


ild    Irish"    in  their  own  laiiiruauc 


^[(■(^iii,i:<:',  an  eminent  Irish  scholar,  became  a  missionary.      Hi- 
health  i)rovinij,'  une(|ual  to  tho  rough  task,  he,  under  the  ausj)ice.- 


)f  the  lirit! 


d  F 


01  The  lint isii  and  J'orcigu  ]»il>le  Sociiity,  ])ut  forth  the  i>il)le  in 
Irish.  This,  wididy  circulated,  has  had  a  marked  ii"iienee. 
Clijirles  (Iraliam,  th(^  other  missionary,  had  l)cen  a  rollicking,  up- 
roarious Irishman,  hut  he  had  heeii  converted  at  the  pr<'acliing  of 
an  itinerant.  His  Irish  speech  and  wit  ser\'e(l  him  well.  Of 
course  he  know  what  iiioI)s  were.  At  'i'ralce,  he  was  to  he  killetl. 
hut  the  stone  aimed  at  him  hit  tho  accomplice  of  the  thrower,  who 
(lied  confessing  his  design. 

liartley  CamphoU  wasii  staunch  Papist,  hut  of  restless,  hungry 
soul.  lie  prayed,  did  penance,  had  alisolution,  went  to  St. 
Patrick's  pnrgatoiy,  and  at  tho  "  houly  tomb"  received  again 
iihsolution.  All  did  not  comfort  him.  "What  shall  I  do?"  "Why, 
<:•()  to  bed  and  sleep."  "Perhaps  I  may  awak(>  in  hell  I"  The 
priest  threatened  to  horscwhi[)  him  for  such  iiisoleiu-e.  Campbell 
went  in  tears  to  a  lone  place  and  prayed.  He  found  pardon  for 
Christ's  sake,  doing  l)ack  to  the  "purgatory,"  Ik?  told  the  way 
of  relief  to  the  })eo[)le  there,  doing  ])enanc(?  on  bleeding  knees. 
The  priest  drove  him  away,  t»ul  he  was  thereafter  a  v.arm,  brave 
witness  of  what  C'hristianitv  can  do  for  an  Irishman. 


•  • 

1 

1 

i  1 

1 

■i 

■  1 

i 

|i»"  ! 


••1 


r 

i 

'■1 

' 

( 

■  1 

1 

1 

i 

i 

■I  ^ 


■  ; 

1 
1 

1 

ij:« 

! 

i 

i 

iM 

> 

c 

'ii' 

1 

' 

il'i 

1  : 

•i<i 

f 
i 

I  '' 


» 


'     I 


« 


nm\ 


I  i 


i  ill 


;}()L' 


V'Ae    t'^tnril    of'  Mrlhuili 


sill , 


For  IimII'  !i  cfiilui'v.  liic  r()rt'iii(i>l  Iri^li  ex  !iiiL;('li>t  was  (iidcoi, 
()u>('l('\'.  lie  was  (it'an  ciniiicnl  (lalway  I'amily  and  a  carciM"  was 
open  lo  him.  He  was  rcarU'ss.  li-ciicfous  ami  devoted  lo  llie  worlv 
1o  whieli  lie  was  ealh'd  al    his   conversion.      ( )ne  day,    he    rode  up 


Avhere  a   ])i'iesl    was   sayinj^'  ma? 


K 


neeliuii"  with    the   crowd,    hi 


ii'ave  them  in  Irish  all  the  (Josjxd  ])art  ol'  the  mass,  and  when  all 
rose  he  spoke  to  them  ol'  ])eace  with  (iod  thi'ouiih  taith  in  ('hri.-t 
alone.  "  leather,  who  is  that  ?"  Ihey  cried  to  the  pi'iest.  ''I  don"t 
know  :   lie  is  not  a  man  at    all  :   he  is  an  anecl  ;   no   man   could   do 


Aviiat    lie    has   done 


■iaid  he,  as  ( )useley  ro(K'  away.  Sucli  men 
Meiit  lo  the  worst  phices  in  Ireland.  preachiuLT  ol'len  1hrc«>  or  tour 
limes  a  day.  They  went  to  ground  stained  by  the  IJelxdlion  and 
sj)okc  to  huuii'i'V,  I'aiiijftMl  thousands.  'Phcy  translated  \\'eslcy's 
liymns  into  tiie  paliiotic  sweetness  ot'tlu\  Irish  lani>uai>v.  and  from 
many  a  cahin  the  inmates  ran  out  to  hear  iheir  own  sp(>ecli  and 
crossed  themselves   and  knelt  in  tears.       Tlu*  warm.  Cell  ic  temi)er 


II: 


imed  mlo  many  an  Irish  row  Avitli  unspeakahic  comicalili(>s : 
wei'i)inii',  i)rayinii',  shoulini:"  and  liuhtin:^:'  i^oinu'  on  at  once  "'>> 
sweet  confusion."  The  Irish  masses  heard  the  (iosptd.  I'sually 
llu'  atlitudi's  of  Pi'oteslant  and  Catholic  in  Ii'cdand  have  l>(>en  de- 
tiant,  hut  ( >us(dey  and  his  men  did  not  tear  or  hate  their  unwashc(l 
countrynuMi.  lie  was  a  trained  "nMntleman"  :  he  was  as  witty  in 
their  own  tunt't'ul  toiiu'ue  as  their  hriu'htest  :  he  could  siiiu"  like 
Caoch  ()'Leary.  and  he  was  honestly  r(>verent  in  his  allnsio:  >  to 
the  \  iriiin.  All,  e\'en  the  Papists  ol'tlu*  hii^'oted  sort,  loved,  t 
various  reasons,  to  listen  lo  him,  and  counted  it  an  entertainment 
at  least,  while  always  some  hearts  were  truly  IoucIumI. 

Once,  in  a  Papist  town,  he  hired  the  Ixdlman  to  announco 
]>i'eachini2'.  but  saw  the  timid  man  did  not  half  do  il.  'Pakini;" 
the  li(dl  himself,  and  with  voice  as  loud,  "( iideon  Oustdey.  the 
Irish  missionai'y,  is  to  preach  Ihis  eveninu'.  :it  such  a  place  and 
hour.      A)i(1  I  ((III  fill'  ninii  iin/si'lf."     The    Irish    could  eniox'  that  I 


or 


Mr'hinHsiu    ami   the    SUid'    (.'//i(rr/i . 


'.( >,) 


Tlioso    who    liav(     seen     Ii'ish   cMhiiis   caii    know    \v  hut     t;nv    ihrx' 


hravc  iiH'ii    I'oiiikI.       Ireland    1 


las    ii; 


1(1,  is    .laviiiu',    ti'diilth'  rn()Ui:h. 


\\'hal  would  have  hct'ii  its  state  to-da\'  had  it  iie\  er  had  McQiiiiiu's 
r.ihle    and    (  )iisele\  "s    a[)ostleshi|>  ?    'I'hereal'ter    caiiu'    tlie    "Irish 


>0( 


;)\v 


iety"  t"or  which  these  openeil  the  way.  K\  en  Papists  widely 
ned  tlui  IxMietit  of  their  vernacular  Scripture;  ''tin*  -want  ot 
them,  in  their  nati\e  lani:'u:iU'*\  liMs  heeii  to  them  and  thcii-  I'ore- 
t'alhers,    for   a   lonu'    period,    the    iireatesl   evil."      In    the    King'.-? 


NEW  MKTIIOUIST  COLLKGE,   DIHLTN,  lUKLAND. 

Ccnirt  district,  of  live  countios,  it  was  found  that  forty  thousaiul 
persons  were  heini:'  lauuht  to  read  the  Scriptui'es,  and  more  than 
(louhle  tiiat  nuinlxM"  ^^■cv^^  lieariiiijf  them  m  their  cahlns. 

Then  cmiiTratiou  to  America  heiran  to  n'<hu'e  the  soclotios.  Tt 
kc|)t  Methodism  in  the  old  home  ])oor,  and  it  was  often  badly  in 
ilcht.  Then  came  the  secessi(»n  of  tlu'  I'riniitivi^  Methodists.  It 
li'('  to  lawsuits  and  le\  yiiiii'  upon  church  pi-operty.  Ousidey  was 
(lislressed,  hut  he  and  the  like  of  him  worked  liarch'r  than  e\-ei' 
t(i  make  iiood  the  losses  l»y   schism  and  emigration.     This  liilter 


1* 


i 


!)   Itii 


in 


m 


$1'    if  J 


I; 


■  ( 

» 


'I    iii 

f  1  il! 
:      'If 

M 


!■,. 


1 


i:. 


'Hi 


rrr 


J 


iffll        ': 


.:i; 


I' 


304 


77/ e  Sfoi'i/  of  Methodism, 


was  Ihe  fUr  more  cxlmustiiig  cause.  Yet  Irish  jNIethodism  liiis 
been  most  lilxTiil  Lcvoiul  any  other  branch  of  the  movement. 
It  has,  in  its  poverty,  l»nilt  no))le  chapels,  a  seminary  in  Dul)lin, 
many  subonbnate  schools  and  an  ample  collegiate  institution,  to 
which  American  Irishmen  justly  contrilmte.  It  has,  this  year, 
twenty-four  thousand  six  hundred  und  forty-four  members,  and 
the  Conference,  in  session  at  this  writing,  has  one  hundred  and 
twenty-one  ministcu's  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  laymen. 

Ous(dey  died  in  the  centenary  year  of  ^Methodism,  1839.  A 
month  before  his  death,  he  preached  three  times  in  one  day,  prov- 
ing, as  his  life  had  proved,  that  Methodism  had  not  lost  its  breed 
of  nol)le  bloods.  He  is  the  true  Protestant  Apostle  of  Ireland, 
its  best  friend  in  this  troublous  centiuy% 

Adam  Clarke  Avas  in  sym})athy  with  every  eftbrt  to  aid  "his 
own  loved  Ireland  of  sorrow."  At  a  later  visit,  ho  spoke  of  a 
mission  to  the  blue-eyed  Gaels  of  Shetland.  He  went  to  see 
them  in  their  stormy  seas,  and  by  his  own  etforts  and  money  he 
sent  them  laborers,  built  them  chapels,  and  Methodism  gained  a 
fair  footing  in  "Ultnna  Thule.'*  In  1826,  his  Commentary,  the 
Avork  of  forty  years,  was  published.  It  was  a  long  and  earnest 
task.     Of  its  merits  we  have  already  spoken. 

"Dr.  Clarke  %v'?7e.s  all  his  Commentary,"  said  the  American 
Bishop  Emory  ;  "no  scissors  or  paste  I"  Again  he  went  to  Shet- 
land. "O  if  I  had  twenty  years  less  of  age  and  infiiTnity,  how 
gloriously  might  I  be  employed  here  !"  said  he,  on  preaching  at  a 
higher  latitude  than  the  Gospel  had,  he  thought,  l)een  heard.  He 
went  on  doing  all  that  he  could.  Lords  and  great  men,  and  even 
royalty,  honored  him  for  his  learning,  and  such  things  count  in 
England.  He  tried  to  l)uy  in  Ireland  the  tield  where  he  had  been 
converted,  but  as  it  was  not  for  sale  he  built  in  the  reuion  b'ix 
memorial  schools  in  that  part  of  his  sweet  Ireland. 

August  25,  1832,  he  in  prayer  spoke  of  "the  blessed  hope  of 


Me(hodis/u  and  the  State   Cliurrh. 


305 


entcrmir  into  glorv."  Tlu;  next  morninu-  lie  was  to  ])i-('!i('lu  but 
cholcni  sti'uck  liiiu  and  lie  cMiteriMl  u^lorv.  lie  was  scvcntN-two, 
in  the  tit'tictli  year  of  liis  niin'istiy. 

Watson  died  the  next  year.  lie,  too,  left  even  more  works 
of  ])ci'niancnt  value  than  did  Adam  Clarke,  and  at  his  death  he 
was  preparing  an  Exposition  of  Komans. 

How  transient  arc  even  l)ooks  !  How  hardly  longer  of  life 
than  spoken  spceeh !  Few  read  these  great  authors  now.  lOaeh 
generation  produces  its  oAvn  literature,  and  the  Methodism  of  to- 
day has  produced  or  reproduced  for  itself. 

In  1820,  John  Emory,  from  the  United  States,  visited  England, 
as  a  representative  of  American  ^Methodism.  The  usage  luis  1)0- 
come  permanent,  and  friendly  interchange  of  representation  now 
occurs  once  in  four  years.  This  year,  1880,  the  Americans 
are  Bishop  Foss  and  Dr.  Hunt,  of  the  American  Bil)le  Society. 
Emory  gave  full  report  of  what  he  saw,  revealing  Wesleyan  waj's 
to  American  eyes  He  was  welcomed  hy  a  declaration  of  purpose 
to  value  and  maintain  the  unit\^  of  ^Methodism  throughout  the 
world.  He  found  the  Conference,  under  Bunting  as  president,  a 
large,  dignified,  industrious  1)ody,  holding  sessions  from  six  a.  m. 
to  eight,  from  nine  to  one  and  from  two  and  a  half  to  five,  public 
meetings  and  the  like  cominir  at  evening. 

They  arranged  with  him  for  the  division  of  the  work  in  Canada 
and  for  the  exchange  of  publications.  Warmly  they  wished  their 
l)rethren  success  in  occupying  the  Xew  Continent,  while  they, 
in  their  missions,  "whose  march  is  o'er  the  mountain  A\iive," 
would  meet  them  and  "shake  hands  at  the  Pacific."  The  meeting 
has  been  realized  on  many  a  heathen  shore. 

Emory  was  almost  anuised  at  their  mode  of  appointing  preach- 
ers. In  America,  the  theory,  if  not  the  i)ractice,  is  that  no 
preacher  knows  his  place  until  it  is  read  aloud  l)y  the  Bishop  at 
the  close  of  the  Conference.     Enujry  found  that  the  stationmg 


"Mr 
vii;i|t 


II. 


i?!' 


I!;  I 
ijl'  . 


i1 
iti 

1 


;^L 


;! 


\i 


Tr- 


SOfi 


Tlie  tSUn'i/  (if  MclJiml !siii. 


Ill  > 


I 


cniiiiniflco  puljlislicd  its  work  \\\  llu*  opciiiiiL''  of  \]\v  session,  thus 
giviiiL^  opportiiuil y  tor  wide  pdilion  mikI  I'ciiioiistrMiicc.  Ih^'iH- 
itc'd,  MS  a  soldier  would  \  i>i)  \\'Ml('rloo,  the  iiu'iiioi'mIiIc  spots,  as 
Moorliclds,  wiicrc  \\'liit('li(dd  had  shaken  tiie  muhitudes,  since  irono 
with  tlieir  ])i"ea(h('i-  to  eternity. 

Kniory  hrouiihl  to  tins  country  a  irood  re])ort  of  ^lethodisni 
in  "the  litth';  luijthcr-land.*"  It  was  urowinu"  in  the  liomestead 
five  thousand  strontrcr  eacli  yeai',  and  that  in  spite  of  niiiiration. 
It  was  p'ttiuiT  stroiiir  in  lixed  properties  and  was  reachini''  to 
heathen  lands  and  was  in  all  the  iov  and  viiior  of  a  minhtv  youth. 

Four  years  later,  his  visit  was  rctui'iied.  Kichard  l^eece  and 
John  Hannah  came  to  America  on  an  errand  like,  his  own.  The 
ctlei-t  of  their  coming  was  to  infuse  among  Anujrican  Methodists 
a  new  zeal  for  evangelizing  the  world.  Other  C'hi'istian  hodies, 
the  Baptists,  etc.,  wei-e  breaking  in  upon  the  outer  darkness;  the 
jNIethodists  resolved  not  to  he  far  behind  them.  Yet  so  great  was 
the  American  home  Avork  that  the  first  foreign  eil'ort  did  not  come 
until  l.s;U. 

Once  more  AVcsleyanism  had  to  appear  in  court.  An  institute 
was  built  for  theological  instruction.  It  is  a  noble  one,  at  Kich- 
mond,  near  London.  Samiud  A\'arren,  an  able  but  restless  man, 
liad  heartily  ajiproved  of  the  institute,  only  he  preferred  the 
name  "college."  When  he  was  not  made  an  officer  of  it,  his 
whole  views  chanired.  lie  attacked  it  violentlv,  and  even  oriran- 
ked  out  of  all  available  malcontents  a  "Grand  Central  Association" 
to  overthrow  the  whole  AVcsleyan  polity.  For  his  violence,  he 
was  suspended  by  the  Manchester  District  Conference  and  Xew- 
ton  took  his  oilice.  lie  then  applied  for  an  injunction  in  Chancery 
against  Newton  and  the  trustees  of  tlu^  chap(d  from  which  he 
liad  been  excluded.  This  involved  the  very  existence  of  AVesley- 
anism.  If  it  could  not  control  its  preadie'-s  and  })ropertics,  it 
was  ruined.     For  three  da\  s  the  case  was  ar<rued  before  the  Vice- 


>n 


MdJiodlsiii.      Thii   >^tat(;   Clinrcli, 


ao? 


cliancolloi-  Sliiidwcll.  Ilis  Honor  rduscd  llic  iiijiiiifl  ion  und 
spoUc  very  wuniily  of  llic  IxMiclit  of  Wolcysmisni  to  Kniiliind. 
AppcMl  wiis  1:ik('ii  1o  L_vndliui-sl,  Lord  lli,L:li  CliimccUor.  'I'lic 
imxicly  of  \\\\  llic  (  oiiiicction  und  of  many  I)cyond  it  was  intrn>i'. 
After  foul'  days  of  Mriiinncnt  and  two  of  con-idcration,  \\\>  Lord- 
.-liip  allinncd  in  an  (daltoratc  judu'incnt  the  derision  of  Ids  vicc- 
rliancellor,  and  so  tlH>  cliaiicds,  in-t itntioiis  and  rules  of  \\"e-ley- 
anisni  wei-e   settled   on   the   iMck  of  Mniilisli   law.   to   l)e    no  more 


UICllMOND    rilKOI.IJi.IOAl,  l.NSTIliriO.N. 

shaken.      This  was  in    l-SH;").      The  .solicitor  in  Chancery  I'oi-  the 
^^'eslcV!Uls  was  a  son  of  liuntinu',  ti  fact  not  a  little;  er;itif\in«''. 

Warroii  and  lii.s  "(Irand  Central  Association"'  fonne(l  what  is 
now  the  ^Methodist  Free  Church.  This  Mas  formed  hy  the  union 
of  three  sccedniu-  Ixxlics  :  the  Protestant  Methodists,  ^\'ari'eirs 
Association  and  the  IJeforniers.  It  now  nund)ers  altout  seventy 
thousand  mend)ers,  and  dillers  from  the  main  l»ody  only  l»v 
iuhnission  of  laymen  to  its  Conference  and  liy  liavinL""  each  idrcuit 
independent  within  itself. 
20 


•II 

1 


i  ! 

« ) 

1! 

W 

r, 


I;! 


m 


iri  >    '' 

i:l 

( 

•  ^  ! 

i 

!r| 

•11. 

\ii  \ 

•  Kli 

{ 

i:  I    ! 


I  'I 


nh 


!■!* 


iiU 


''.Mi 


?-\i 


!  .1 


■  I 


308 


yyw  Stori/  of  Mfif/iodism. 


The  Kotoniicrs  just  namtMl,  tlio  last  socc^ision  from  Woslov- 
anisii),  wont  out  in  l'S41t.  Six  nuMuhors  of  tlu?  Conference  wore 
held  to  1)('  inti'i,<»'uin<r  with  Warren's  Association,  and  the  appear- 
ance of  "Fly  Sheets,''  anonymously  attackinir  eminent  Wesleviins. 
the  authorship  of  which  the  said  six  Mould  neither  admit  nor 
disclaim,  an<rravated  the  temper  of  the  Conference.  The  men 
were  not  brought  to  trial,  hut  three  were  peremptorily  exix'llcd 
and  three  reprimanded.  A  hundred  thousand  left  the  Couuection 
with  these  men,  of  whom,  however,  many  returned. 

One  result  of  this  AVarren  trouble  was  that  a  full,  clear  exposi- 
tion of  AVesleyan  Rules  and  Usaires  was  published  and  the  reading" 
of  it  earnestly  ur<red,  so  that  the  system  miiilit  1)0  clearly  and 
widely  known.  Provision  was  also  made  for  employing  laymen 
still  more  in  all  temporal  ati'airs,  and  the  meml)ers  were  encour- 
aged to  present  to  the  Conference,  with  the  utmost  freedom, 
petitions  for  change  of  anything  Ijut  the  Articles  of  Faith  and 
the  Itinerant  System. 

In  1.S28,  William  Capers,  afterwards  Bishop,  was  the  American 
visitor,  and,  in  l-Soii,  AVilber  Fisk.  At  Fisk's  visit,  some  trouble 
was  raised  from  his  representing  a  church  containing  slaye-holders. 
He  explained  how  the  Gospel  went  to  the  slave  and  his  mastei-, 
and  all  were  satisfied.  lie  urged  the  laying  of  the  hands  of  th»' 
elders  on  the  head  of  the  candidate  in  ordination,  and  his  advice 
has  eyer  since  l)een  followed. 


i  i 


i 


ii**. 


rnAPTKi?  XXV. 

1 1  'piile^in  n  hwi  Abroad, 

()T    yet    do    wc    tell    the     Story     ot 
Methodism  in  Anierioti.     Tliat  is  to 
ii'o  l»y  itself.     "We  trace  the  j-evival 
?^ 'in  Knglish  colonies  and  in  heathen 
lands.      We  noted  "Wesley's  tii'st  Af- 
^¥^ib  rican    convert    and    how,    on   the 
reeoverv  of  her  master's  health,  slio 
lu^i^^^^'Si*'-^  returned    with    him    to    Antiijfua, 

where  both  were  active  in  reliijious  labors.  Tn  17I>2,  the  year 
after  Wesley's  death.  Coke,  sailinjr  for  the  fifth  time  to  America, 
took,  though  others  were  ali-eady  there,  Daniel  Graham,  as  the 
tirst  missionary  to  the  "West  Indies. 

Stopping  at  the  Dutch  island  of  St.  Eustatius,  he  found  some 
classes  meeting  secretly,  but  iiercely  persecuted,  while  mission- 
aries and  prayer-meetings  were  pn)hibited.  At  Dominica,  he 
t'nund  a  Imndred  and  tifty  sheep  having  no  shepherd.  At  St.  Vin- 
cent's, Lumb,  a  preacher  who  had  independently  made  his  way 
lliere,  Avas  m  jail,  though  preaching  to  weeping  negroes  through 
his  grated  window.  Fine  and  imprisonment  were  imposed  for 
the  first  preaching,  flogging  or  banishment  for  the  second,  and 
death  for  the  third  ;  yet,  under  Lumb".-,  hdxn's,  "a  thousand  slaves 
were  stretching  out  their  hands  unto  God." 

Coke  was  surprised  to  find  so  many  negroes  converted,  and  he 
ubtained  the  King's  "Order  in  Council,"  annulling  the  savage  law 


i!  I 


I 


m 


lii.  I 


"*  III'  i 

III  ir 


!l 


i 

•'li;   1, 

r,     1 

I  I 


f'i 


'V 


If    : 


I'ii 


i'iSi 


J 


i'l 


ALTAK    OK    A    OlIINKSE    PAGODA. 


West  I' JO  li  liiiii   ^[bi'ijud. 


15 11 


at  St.  Vincent's,  lint  not  till  sifter  tlvc  lumdrod  had  boon  lost  hv 
|)«M's»'(iiti<in.  In  li\t'  vcar^.  there  \vei»' twenty-two  niis>i()naries  on 
the  i>lan(l>,  and  all  tiie  liiitish  settlements  and  some  others  were 
visited.  The  converted  neiii'oes  l)ore  all  the  iVnits  ot"  riuhteons- 
ness.  'i'lie  missionaries,  tVoin  the  climate  and  pestilence,  were 
>h(irl-li\  ed.  hut  (ttliers  took  their  places  and  the  societies  i^rew 
rapidly.  In  the  French  invasions  ot'  the  islands,  the  hlaeUs  were 
safely  arme(l  for  det'ence  and  their  petty  ollicers  were  taken  from 
the  Methodist  ne;j,'r<>t'>-  I'h*'  uovermnent .  u'rateful,  oll'ered  ( 'oke 
free  ])assai:e  to  liei-nuida  and.Iamaica  for  all  outuoinu'  missionaries. 

Then  came  tiery  trials.  The  .lamaica  Louislaturc  fixed  the  pen- 
alty of  imi)risonmeiit  for  ))reachinir  Ity  any  hut  ministers  of  the 
Knii'lish  or  Scotch  Churches.  Stejihenson,  a  missionary  just  be- 
<>inninu'  work  most  hopefully,  was  imprisoned  until  his  health  was 
ruined.  The  Kinii'  amudled  the  law,  hut,  seven  yeais  later,  a  law 
Wiis  made  forhiddinuanv  "Methodist  missionary,  or  other seetarv.," 
to  instruct  slaves,  or  admit  them  to  juiy  meetiiiii's.  This,  too,  the 
Kiuii-  canceled,  but  for  ten  years  persecution  raged  and  chapels 
were  closed. 

In  IM"),  the  irrepressible  laborers  were  in  full  tide  of  success, 
and  converts  were  gained,  a  thousand  a  year.  The  heathen  ne- 
groes, counted  incapable  of  civilization,  wer(>  often  marvcds  of 
transformation.  They  had  clung  to  the  savage  usages  of  Africa 
and  had  taken  not  a  few  vices  from  the  whites,  so  that  they  wei'e 
woise  <legraded  than  when  running  in  CJuinea.  Thousands  were 
now  cleaned  of  superstition,  polygamy  and  theft,  and  sat  under 
the  preaching  clothed  and  in  their  i-ight  minds.  li\  iSls,  "they 
all  spent  the  holidays,  in  a  rational  manner,  in  the  worship  of 
(i  id.''     They  liad  formerly  had  orgies  almost  diabolical. 

In  islands  of  other  nations  the  missions  met  the  old  tight  of 
|)(M'secuti()n.  hut  at  length  they  got  footing.  The  tirst  class  in 
South    America    was    at    Demarara.    heini>"    formed    by   lavmen. 


i'   I 


(I'M  H 


t    ] 


n 


-.1:, 
,.if  ■  I 


•m 


hi 


1 II 


tWn 

u.  Ill 


►  •' 

'.     .    i 

; 

t 
i 

.  1 

ill 

ii; 

li     I 


•^'llli 


'  •  y- 

|i   m''      '' 

i'-'M' 

I    ji  V 

iii    1 

1  m^' 

ii'    '.;( 


^  ..^i 


•.:\S. 


i^ 


W'tahjd II i-'<ii/    .  [hroud. 


',\V.\ 


These  good  men  hnd  sovimiI y  incmlMM-s  wlicii  llic  liist  niissioiiMry 

CaiUC.       Ill'  sctoii    liiid  !l  cllMlK'l  Mild  M   society   •>!"  t  lil'fc- llMlldrt'il  iiild 

seventy.  'I'Ih'M  I'dl  the  iiiit;iiliiii:'  >l<>riii.  which  iiiiuht  i^o  wiihoiil 
tiic  siiyiiiuf.  The  rhnfK'l  \v;is  wrecked  mihI  the  whoh'  (ohtiiy  in  up- 
roar. 'I'hen  eiinie  ])e!U'i',  and  soon  a  lari^'er  acconiinodalioii  was 
needed  for  a  society  ol"  seven  hunch'ed,  since  i^rowii  to  three  thou- 
sand, with  chapels,  schools  and  all  appliances. 

.Meanwhile,  reliiiion  throve  in  daniaica.  \o  region  ever  clianu'tMl 
character  so  i-apidly.  K'eliuion  l»ei:au  at  the  holtoni  and  hrouiiht 
the  heatlieu  to  niarriai:"e,  to  neatness,  to  Sahhath  ohservance.  to 
Christian  sonir  and  [irayer.  Soon  there  were  thi'ce  hundi'ed 
preachinir-idaces  on  the  island. 

TheCiospel  in  .Jamaica  was  I'losely  connected  with  the  abolition 
of  shivery.  Tin'  missionaries  had  heen  strictly  t'oi'hidden  to 
nioddle  with  civil  ali'airs  and  they  wei'e  to  hold  slav(>s  in  no  man- 
ner whatever.  ]\Iost  ol"  the  white  members  held  slaves,  'i'he 
missionaries  never  tauirht  the  slaves  to  expect  freedom,  hut 
to  be  faithful,  jiatient  and  devout  wheri'  Providence  had  put 
thcni.  ITow  M'is(>  and  moderate  was  their  course,  and  how  i^ood 
its  ctl'eet  upon  the  morals  and  passions  of  the  slaves,  may  lie 
seen  from  one  faet :  For  more  than  seventy  years,  17()()-ls;U, 
no  ]Methodist  shive  was  ever  jiroved  guilty  of  incendiarism  or 
rebellion.  With  all  this,  tlie  missionaries  suflered  from  the 
jealousy  of  the  planters,  who  thus  hastened  the  En<:Tish  mind 
towards  omaneipation.  "The  ixood  men  of  Clapham"  had  won 
the  abolition  of  the  slave-trade  in  LslO.  At  once,  A\'ilberf()rce, 
Buxton,  Clarkson  and  othei's  beiran  to  uriro  eniancipation.  It 
took  years,  and  AVilberforee  was  on  his  dyiuir  bed,  "when,  in  ^lay 
of  1833,  Lord  Stanley  introduced  a  motion  "That,  from  Auir.  1, 
1S84,  slavery  shall  be  forever  abolished  throughout  the  British 
colonies." 

The  masters  were  paid  an  average  of  one  hundred  and  twenty- 


i"::' 


1 1  i< 

(i.  t*  > 

in 

••'IE 


»  >' 


.v: 
1  111 

I 


ii 


^mmm 


! 

1' 

1 

ij: 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1' 

:;!  I  T/te  iSfaiy  of  Mif/tudisni, 

livf  (l<ill;iiN  \\)V  cMcIi  >l:i\(>  Miitl  llicrc  \\ii>.l<>i'  ;i  w  liilc,  ji  Inrm  of 
apprt'iit  iit'-liip  cl'  liiillciN,  I>iil   IVcimIoiii  Imd  <(iliir. 

I'JLilil  Iimid'.'cd  lliousiiiid  sliivc-,  :iii(l  iii.iiiy  odirr  jx.ipic,  in 
viisl  ;i>^fiiil>!it's,  howcd  ill  iiiidiiiiilil  or-lidv  .")!.  ls;i|,  in  sllciif 
I)r!iv<'r.  riif  clock  struck.  Kiuld  liiiiidrcd  lluui-iiiid  iVci'iiicii 
ro!S(!  iiiid  >!iiii;' : 

"  I'ra'iM'  Ciod  from  whuiii  all  lilcsshijjs  flow  I" 

Mo  siicli  music  liiid  l)ccu  licMi'd  since  llic  nioi'iiini;"  s<!irs  siini;  to- 
•IcIIktI  111  lil'tN'  NCiirs.  llicsc  |»c(iplc — s;i\  iui;'  iiotliiiii:-  ol"  llic  otlu'i* 
Cliurclics — li!i\c  iilxiiit  lour  liiindrcd  cIiMpcIs  niid  prciicliiiiu-jdjiccs, 
mid  iil»niit  sixty  IlioiisMiid  :iiciiil»ci's.  with  the  usiial  i  at  io  of  •>chiinls. 
Thi'V  aid  l-'di-ciiiii  Missions,  as  they  so  lately  were,  with  ihousauds 
of  elolhirs  Nearly, 


'•  NVIiorc  tlio  ffolden  <fat(;s  of  day 
Open  on  the  palmy  Ivist." 

(MiNo  had  oixMied  to  Kiiii'laiid  the  region  wliere  now  \'ietoria. 
Knipress  of  India,  rules  al>oiit  three  hundred  inillion  subject^. 
Twenty-seven  years  after  Clive's  deci^ixc  Niclory  at  Plassey. 
( 'oke  Ix'ti'an  to  plan  the  eon<|iiest  of  tlici  same  land.  "India 
cleaves  to  my  heart."  lie  ollercd  to  hecome  r>i,>lio[)  of  India, 
beiiiM'  a  cleruyniMii  of  the  Kstal)lishe(l  ('hiircli.  lie  was  willing' 
to  spend  there  his  entire  income  of  sixty  thousand  dollars.  The 
Company,  with  that  straiiL!'e  policy  that  so  loni:'  I'ostered  heathen- 
ism and  excluded  Christianity,  refused.  \\'\  there  lay.  iVee  from 
tlut  (\)mpany"s  control,  the  island  emhalmed  in  the  iinperi>hal»lc 
hvmii,  ('e\loii,  the  threshold  ot"  India, 

"  Whore  every  jirospecl  pleases 
And  onl}  man  is  vile." 

Coko  lie^an  to  study  Portiiii'ucso  and  lie  api)lied  for  helpers  to 
Ireland,  from  which  already  had  iioiie  forth  hra\'e  pioneer  mission- 


Ml)  ( 

i  ' 


I 


■i^l 


1  .1 

V 


1 

.,t 

.1 

4 

I . 

■      1 

I        i 


i    rmA 


.31('> 


77i('  >Sf(>ri/  <>/'  M( llniil isiit. 


jirics.      Scvcnil    incii    \ olmitct'i-tMl  .    :mi()ni:'    lliciii  Oiisolcy   stood, 
bcilfti'i'iii'  to  ii'o. 

Tlu'  ( 'oiircroiicc  ill  Kiii:l;iiul  iiiovccl  more  slowly,  Itiit  when 
Coke  oll'crcd  lo  li'o  in  |»('rson  and  |):iy  all  I  he  I'ost  ol"  oultit,  it  was 
\()ti'd  to  sanction  his  p>ini:",  and  six  nu'ii,  two  of  tlii'iii  with  wives, 
started  for  Ceylon,  and  one  for  the  (ape  of  (iood  Hope.  Tlu^ 
voyaiic  was  stormy  and  disastrous,  and  ("oke,  dyinu'  suddenly  of 
aj)oi)lexy,  was  laid  in  the  Indian  Oeean,  "when'  pearl>  lie  deep." 
The  elfeet  of  his  death  on  the  Conferenee  was  like  that  ol'  (iiis- 
tnviis"  d(>ath  on  tlui  Swedes  at  Lutzeu.  Defeat  was  lu)!  to  he 
thouiiht  of.  Soon  the  CJeneral  \Vesleyan  Missionary  Society  was 
formed,  with  a  system  of  auxiliaries,  monthly  prayer-meetiniis, 
managers,  secretaries,  and  treasurers.  Its  lirst  anni\ ci'sary  was 
oidi\(MU'd  l»y  the  lirst  fruits  of  Ceylon,  two  r>uddhist  ])riests, 
who  came  to  enjoy  the  teaching  of  Adam  Clarke. 

Coke's  conu'ades  went  \o  Ceylon.  I'ndi'r  the  tirst  sermon.  Lord 
Molesworth,  commander  of  the  garrison,  who  entertained  the 
comers  at  his  own  table,  and  a  man  horn  in  Ceylon,  of  foreiu'ii 
parents,  were  awakened,  and  his  loi'dship  alterwards  found  })eace 
in  a  j)rayer-nieeting.  Nothing  could  have  l>een  happier  for  the 
mission.  He  honored  and  aided  it.  ^^'recked.  at  last,  on  his 
passage  to  England,  his  last  breath  was  s|)ent  in  declaring  Christ 
to  the  perishing  company.  His  body  was  thrown  by  the  waves 
on  the  South  African  shore,  his  arms  still  enfolding  the  corpse  of 
his  wife. 

The  other  convert  became  a  missionary,  the  lirst  Methodist 
preacher  in  Asia. 

Soon,  several  ])riests  IxH'ame  converts  and  even  preachers.  In 
ji  temple.  Harvard,  a  missionaiy,  stood  before  the  great  idol, 
"The  Light  of  Asia,"' and  i)reaehed,  "We  know  that  an  idol  is 
nothing  in  the  world,  and  that  there  is  none  other  (iod  Itut  one."' 

Tl)e   missionaries   found   all   heatluMi   with  education  from  the 


'In-ist 


tlVl' 


|)S0   o\ 


liDdist 


lulol    1-* 


IIVn/ 


r  1/(1)1  hsiii 


V. 


ii'odti 


oli 


priest.^ 


:il()m> 


Tlicic   :iri'   now    :il>(»ut    one   limnlrcd    .lud   t\V(>'ilv 


prcacliiiijz-plarcs,  two  lliousiuul  iiu'iul)t'rs,  aiul  six  tlicaisand  lu'ar- 
crs,  "with  all  tlio  otlu-r  iliurch  a})pliaiu'('s.  Ccvloii  is  rouiiird  (lu^ 
birtliplaco  of  Jinddliism  and  at  r>atticola.  alone,  wliei:  thonussion- 
arit'S  canio,  wore   live  Inmdrod  toiui)U's;  now  less  ilian   lit'l y  are 


staiulinii"  and  those  are  on  ilieir  v.av  to  the  moles  and    hat; 


Th 


iiativ 


o  c 


hiiivh 


les  eould   now,  oi  themselves,  (.-arrv  on  the  Christian 


work  of  thi>ir  own  land  amid  its  spiey  l)reo/.os. 

Poi-mittod,  at  last,  to  enter  the  oontinonl,  Thomas  Lyneh  went 
to  ATadras,  and  -lohn  llorni'r  to  Ijomhay,  in  ^>iil'.  Soon,  another 
wont  to  Xoirapatam  ;  and,  in  1S:>;'..  thoi'o  wei'o  fonr  stations,  like 
liirht-luMisos,  On  a  far-strotehinu-  coast.  Around  those,  with  llu'ir 
ton  ohapels  and  as  many  schools,  wore  two  hundred  converts. 
They  wont  on  irrowing.     h\  1837,  came    five  men,  so  well  traintnl 

the  Institute    at    Hoxton    that    thev  boiran  at  once  to  nroach 


m 


to  the  natives  in  thoii-  own  horn  speech.  In  that  year,  Animaga 
Tamhii'an,  of  the  very  hiirhost  rank  amonir  Ihahmins,  and  a 
teadier  of  wid(^  ro})ute,  was  converted.  Ho  was  ohliaodto  apply 
to  a  maii'istrato  for  ])rotoction,  and  in  the  t-ourt  he  wore,  for  the 
tst  time,  his  Hrahminical  t'ord  and  rohe.  ''As  a  heathen,  F  irot 
nionov  ni  ahundance  and  honors.  T  al)an(h>n  heathenism.  I  wish 
to  teach  t)thors  of  this  Saviour,"  was  his  pu))lic  word,  lie  wrote 
a  poem  ajiainst  heathenism,  and  ot'  this  copies  l)y  scores  of 
thousands  were  scatter(>d,  to  bo  said  or  sune-,  far  and  wide. 

India  lias  missionaries  from  various  Methodist  bodies — the 
Welsh  Methodists,  the  J^ondon  Missionary  Society  (  Whitetiehrs), 
and,  as  Ave  shall  see,  from  the  ^Methodists  of  tlu'  Ignited  States. 
Other  denonn'nations,  loo,  are  in  the  vast  lield.  Native  C'iu'istians 
are  now  reckoned  by  hundreds  of  thousands,  and  this  year  entire 
villaij:es  have  become  Christian  in  a  day. 

As  early  as  ITHo,  Coke  sent  artisans  to  toacli  civilization  to  the 
Forelahs  of  West  Africa.     They  faih-d,  ami  the  next  year  two 


• 


■     -j; 

11 

t, 

vtr  i 


^  ■■  '11   ; 


a- 


:<    I 


li 


'Tilt 


m 


31.S 


7'//''    /Vo/'y    itf  M('lli(Klisni. 


tl 


cv!iiiir<'Iisfs  wcro  :i|)|>oiii<o(l.      Uislu)}*  I'nylor  liad  not  yet  liscn  to 
urir«'  tlic  imioii  ol"  llic  1\V()  itlciis. 

Ill  llu*  \v;ir  of  the  Aiiicii<'.'m  licvolul  ion  many  nciirocs  llcxl  iVoin 
the  Slates  to  Nova  Scotia,  ulicrc  many  hccamc  Met liodists. 
Twt'lvt  Inindrctl  were  attcrwards  taken  to  Sicri'a  Leone.  'I'wo 
\vhite  men  Avere  local  |»i-eacliers  amonur  tliem.  and  Minp)  dordan, 
a  colored  ])reaclier,  in  ISOS,  wi'ote  to  Adam  Clarke  of  their 
condition.  He  li:id  in  society  a  lumdred.  On  one  day  ]ie  liad 
ba[)li/ed  twenty  maroons — lialt-hrcM-ds — and  all  were  iiivini:"  t  wo 
cents  a  day  to  promote  the  (Jospel.  Sierra  licouo  was  a  dreadt'ul 
place.  Cariioes  ol'  r«>cai)tun>d  slaves  were  landt>d  liei'c,  and  two 
hundred  AlVican  tribes,  each  with  its  own  laiiiriiairei  and  savauci'v, 
liave  l»e«'n  seen  there  at  one  time.  Many  a  ndssionaiy  died  at 
(tiice,  and  the  term  ol"  tluvir  servic(>  was  at  last  hut  two  years. 
(Ji'cat  li'ood  has  heen  done  in  its  rejxion.  An  instifulo  for  traininir 
native  jireacliers  was  t'ounded. 

Si)readinir  lliroui>h  Sciiei2,!iml)ia,  tlio  A^'esleyans  now  Iiave  tweii- 
ty-tive  ])reacliers,  mostly  trained  ollic  ers,  w  iih  about  ten  thouyaiul 
members. 

At  C':ipe  Coast  Castle,  some  young  natives  at  school  canio  across 
portions  ot"  Scri])turo  and  wanted  tlie.  whol(\  A  ])ious  s(>a-captaiii 
told  of  this  in  Kngland  and  oliered  to  take  out,  and,  if  needed, 
brini:'  ])atk,  a  missionary.  fFohn  l)unw(?ll  wont  and  in  six  months 
died,  but  the  lads  were  c(mvort«Ml.  So  soon,  too,  the  natives  liad 
built  a  chapel,  and  largo  congregations  created.  "  AVc  will  nMuaiii 
in  lluMU'w  profession,  tor,  tliough  the  missionary  is  dead,  (Jod 
lives."  Five  missionaries  jxu'ished.  Then  came  Freeman,  of 
their  rai'O  and  color,  lie  found  si.v  places  of  worship,  three 
schools.  I'our  hundred  and  fifty  connnunicants  and  large  congrc- 
irations  :  but  all  the  laborers  before  him  were  dead.  lie  is  the 
hero  of  Ashantee.  the  darkest  land  on  earth.  Its  jieople,  the  most 
tierce  and  ])owt>rful  o\'  Africans,   were  slave-deaK'rs,  given  to  iiu- 


Si     \ 


Wefi/ei/aii  isia  Ahroail. 


?,\\) 


niiin  Siicrifu'cs,  to  every  eiionnily.  IFc  entered  ("ooiiiiissie,  llie 
eni)iliil,  Itelweeii  two  luouiids.  under  eacli  of"  wliicli  luid  lieeii  hur- 
led ii  living  luau,  to  pi-eveul  llie  coiuiuu"  "I''elis]i-nien"  iVoni  doing 
harm.  During  liis  s1:iy,  I'oi'ly  wei'e  s.'ici'iliced  to  llie  gliosi  ol' some 
one  of  X\\K\  King's  family.  Preaching  amid  Ihesc'  horror-^,  Free- 
niHii  gaiiu'd  one  convert,  who  liad  heaivl  of  C'hi'istianily  and  now 
wished  to  ])rofess  it.  The  awful  Cooniassie,  the  very  alxxle  of 
spirits  in  prison,  saw  one  Christian  baptism.  'I'he  King  was  favor- 
al)ly  impressed,  und  asketl  for  a  mission  and  a  school  at  his  capi- 
tal. He  had  sent  \\\o  sons  to  JOngland  to  he  educatcid.  Thoso 
returned  and  came  with  l-'reeman  to  their  fathers  court.  Ijand 
and  j)rivileges  wei'e  granted,  and  soon  a  thousand  were  heanng 
the  (iosj)el  in  Satan's  seat  at  C'oomassie.  At  a  similar  place,  A1)- 
beokuta.  Freeman  also  established  a  mission. 

Th«'  ^^'eslevan  Mission  in  South  .Vfrica  began  romanti(/ally.  A 
chief',  far  up  in  the  interior,  learned,  somehow,  ofthe"(ireat  W'oi'd,'' 
and  started  to  Cape  Town — fi\(^  hundred  mihis — to  tind  it  and  a 
teacher.  Shaw,  just  come  as  missionary,  was  not  allowed  to 
preach  at  the  Cape,  Ilis  wife  suggested  that  they  go  to  tind  na- 
tives ])i'yon(l  the  limits  of  the  colony.  The  ox-wagons  met,  a.s 
ships  meet  on  the  sea,  on  the  evening  of  Shaw's  twenty-sc'venth 
day.  A  half-hour's  difference  Avith  either  WH)uld  have  pi-evented 
their  meeting.  The  chief  wept  aloud  for  joy.  He  hastened  back 
with  the  good  news,  and  the  XanKpias  received  Shaw  joyfully. 
Here  he  built  a  house  and  chapel,  i)lanted  a  iield,  worked,  taught 
and  i)reaclied.  In  a  month,  he  heard  at  night  a  native  ))raying 
alone!  Soon  iie  baptized  seventeen,  blessed  a  Christian  mar- 
riage, celebrated  the  Lord's  Su})per,  made  a  plow  and  used  it, 
raising  a  crop  of  tifty  fold. 

Edwards,  another  missionary,  came.  A  band  of  converts  went, 
with  joy  and  song,  by  night,  to  call  on  every  family  to  pray  and 
give  tliauks  over  the  arrival.     In  the  region  where  Shaw,  in  1820, 


ii   ^\ 


':(ii  m 


m 


■  !■  %i 


M 


I;' 


.kii:.(IM 


I*  -i    ■ 

i"'  I'! 

'':  "31  I 

M  HI  ; 

,,;  .1   I 


i: '! 


M 


''J 


\'H 


fU 


11 


i^« 


|j  m 


I   ,1 


;;2() 


'J7ie  >*<for//  of  Mclhodisiii. 


})l!iiil('da1  Siilcni  the  (fos|)»'l — his  wife,  iVoin  hor  own  fortune,  pay- 
iiiu'  iill  o\))('nscs — arc  now  al>(»ut  nindy  ministrrs,  with  fourteen 
tliousand  menihers  and  as  many  scholars.  Of  the  ministers  many 
ai'c  native.  All  thini;s  heloni^inn'  to  icliiiion  and  eivili/atlon  rlonr- 
ish  tliei'c,  and  the  wildei'iiess  Iilooms  in  gladness  and  beauty. 

Of  ^^'esleyallisnl  in  the  island  world  of  the  Pacific  our  Story 
must  he  I)u1  an  outline.  In  these  islands,  dreamers  used  to  ])lace 
the  "Paul  and  Yiriiinia  "  dreams  of  natural  imiocence.  They  were, 
in  fact,  the  abode  of  >ucli  horrors  as  wei'o  rife  in  Ashanteo,  and 
had  cannibalism  besides.  In  ISl"),  Methodism  beuan  in  New 
South  AVales,  though  a  class  Mas  formed  of  emiii'rants  three;  yiMirs 
earlier.  An  educated  younu:  Irishman,  in  prison  for  forgery,  and 
awaitiuijf  doom,  Avas  eonverted  in  his  cell  through  ^NTethodist 
hd)ors.  His  sentence  was  clumged  to  transportation.  He  bei>an, 
in  the  land  of  his  exile,  t(»  read  prayei's  and  expound  Scripture, 
and  became,  with  the  ])rand  of  his  crime  upon  hmi,  the  first  Meth- 
odist ])reacher  in  Australia. 

There  is  now  in  Australia  a  se])arate  Conference.  It  has  over 
forty  thousand  membeis,  served  by  two  hundred  and  tifty  preacliers 
and  sixty  nati^-e  helpers.  It  has  three  colleges  and  a  large  supi)ly 
of  lower  schools. 

In  Xew  Zealand,  the  AVesh^yan  missionaries  had  sore  baffling. 
At  hMiiith,  in  1834,  the  uood  work  bei»:an.  Some  came  forty 
miles  to  meeting.  Famous  warriors,  grown  old  in  fighting  and 
feasting  on  their  fallen  foes,  eanie  to  sit  at  Jesus'  feet,  and  calls 
for  missionaries  Avere  lieard  in  every  direction.  AVhen  the  work 
beiriiii  there  was  not  a  l)()ok  in  the  Maori  language.  The  mis- 
sionaries  mastered  it  and  iiave  it  a  religious  literature,  and  all  the 
good  things  of  the  Kingdom  of  Christ  grew  so  fast  that  the  reaper 
overtook  the  sower.  Men  wlio  had  seen  the  ishuid  in  its  grossest 
barbarism  lived  to  see,  among  the  Wesleyans  alone,  two  hundred 
and  fifty  chapels  and  places  for  preaching,  and  nearly  four  hun- 


day 
two-l 
Th 
peoj) 


]\'rsh'//i/)n's/i/    .  \hr<i(itl. 


.".21 


dred  ])i'ojic'h(!i's  of  all  dciirt'o.s.     'l\'ii  or  twelve  lliousiind  tttteiid 

WOf.SllIji. 

At  Auckland  is  a  Alethodist  colloj'e,  and   there  an?  a  liiiiidred 


I.. 


19 


in  p.". 
forty 
and 

ealls 
Avork 

niis- 
11  the 
eaper 
assest 

ulrod 

huu- 


I 


O 


day  schools.      Three-fourths  of  the  native  adults  can  read  and 
two-thirds  can  write. 

The  last  canni))al  act  was  in  1<S 42  when  one  Taraia  caught  some 
people  coming  from  church  and  cooked  them  in  his  oven.     The 


t'l 

'i! 


m 


WW 


} 


.3.  \)\  . 


m. 


K\- 


. !  hi 


i'';i 


i- 


!l    ■ 


!1 


If'! 


322 


T/fC  Sfori/  of  Methodism, 


oI<l  tliii't' still    (or  liitely)   is   i)oiiited  iit  with  loathing  as  the  last 
cannibiil. 

In  sonic  of  llio  islands  wonderful  thing's  occurred.  I'jijiaiiisni 
wont  down  all  at  once.  JN'oplc  cast  away  their  idols  and  went 
hundreds  of  miles  to  tind  a  misslonarv.  At  ^'avau,  ILilvii  and  the 
Tongas,  in  In.")  I,  came  such  an  awakening  as  is  rarely  j-ecorded. 
Hundreds  of  men,  women  and  children  were  often  at  onco  in 
deep  conviction,  weeping  and  crying  for  mercy.  Ordinary  em- 
ployment ceased.  All  the  islands  were  griiciously  visited.  In 
one  dav,  at  A'avan,'a  thousand  were  converted,  not  mcrelv  from 
idols,  1)ut  from  Satan.  '"Phe  Lord  has  bowed  the  Avhole  island 
to  his  sway,"  wrote  the  missionary.  "AVe  Avent  to  the  house  of 
prayer  at  daylight.  A  thonsand  howed,  weeping,  at  the  feet  of 
Jesus.  The  greatest  chiefs  and  the  meanest  men,  old  and  young, 
men  and  women,  Avei'<^  th(M"e  and  the  Loi'd  heard  their  crv." 

George,  King  of  TIahai,  and  Charlotte,  his  Queen,  were  fore- 
most in  the  M'ork.  lie  became  class  leader  and  local  preacher, 
the  onlv  lloval  Preacher  of  modern  times,  nor  did  he  fail  to  jiive 
good  })roof  of  his  ministry.  He  is  of  majestic  bearing  and  has 
full  kingly  qualities.  Ho  freed  his  slaves,  with  an  atlecting 
speech  npon  the  change  now  wronght  in  himself,  in  them  and  in 
his  Kingdom.  All  wc^pt,  as  did  his  queen  and  he,  and  two  'oegged 
to  live  and  die  in  his  s(M"vice. 

He  <iave  the  Mission  the  tinest  bnildinjf  ever  bnilt  in  the  islands 
for  a  church.  Its  altar  rails  Avere  from  the  spears  of  his  ances- 
tors and  the  pulpit  stairs  rested  on  sacred  clubs  of  old.  Himself, 
at  the  dedication,  preacln^d  to  thousands  of  his  people.  Com- 
mp-ider  AVilkes,  of  the  V .  S.  Xavv,  bore  witness  to  the  irood 
state  of  things  nndor  King  George.  "I  could  not  but  admire 
him."  He  gave  his  people  a  code  of  laws,  simple,  but  equal  in 
htness  to  any  modern  legislation. 

And  now  on  his  islands  came  all  the  blessings  that  attend  upon 


AVesh'l/((n I'stH  ^Vn-iKiiJ . 


323 


the  faith,  and  llicv  cainc  to  sta\'.  Kiui:  (icortic  won  tlii'  rcspoct 
of  nations.  Sir  Edward  Howe,  c-oniniaiidiiig  an  Knirlish  man-of- 
war,  sawliini  pardon  somo  Tonira  diicfs  wlioliad  rclu'llcd.  Those 
exi)t'i't('d  (k'ath.  (Jcorgo  said, ''Live  I"  Tiiov  thanked  liini.  lie 
told  them  to  tliank  Jehovali.  They  went  a\  itli  him  to  his  lionse, 
and,  with  a  lumdied  of  their  l*a_iran  attendants,  l)<)wed  and  owned 
the  true  fJod.  Sir  Edward  said  :  "He  is  worthy  of  hcinu*  called 
;i  King."  lielland,  a  Freiieh  eonnnander,  had  come  witli  some 
complaint.  lie  was  so  impressed  that,  in  the  nanu^  of  liis  i^overn- 
meiit,  he  acknowledged  "(ieorgi;,  King  of  the  Friendly  Islands." 

Fiji  M'as  visited  In'  AVesley's  missionaries.  It  was  tlie  worst  of 
all  the  bad  groups  of  islands  and  its  very  name  was  used  for  utter 
dcirradation.  After  ten  vears  amid  atrocities  and  ahominations, 
the  mercy  came,  "liusiness,  sleep  and  food  Avere  almost  entirely 
laid  asid(;."  A'arin,  a  chief,  "tlu;  human  hutcher."  was  comcrted 
and  hegan  preaching.  The  (^ueen  of  \'eiva  tunuMl  with  a  l)roken 
lieart  and  many  were  converti'd  at  her  l)aptism.  At  last.Thak- 
onibau,  the  King  overall  Fiji,  stood  up  to  confess  and  Ibr^^ake 
Ills  sins.  In  all  that  land  of  blood  and  darkness  there  was  none 
so  bad  as  he.  lie  was  in  tlie  presence  of  those  who  had  felt 
liis  crimes.  lie  had  deliled  wives  and  slain  husbands ;  had 
strauijled  sisters  and  eaten  brothers  :  had  constantlv  made  chil- 
dren  orphans. 

No  pen  could  write  the  horrors  of  Fiji,  of  which  cannil)alism  was 
the  most  revolting,  and  Thakombau's  ovens  were  daily  heated  for 
victims.  He  now,  with  a  broken  heart,  owned  the  true  God  and 
sincerely  entered  Ilis  service.  Ban,  his  capital,  "doubtless  the 
deepest  hell  on  earth,"  is  now  a  Christian  town.  A  church  stands 
in  the  S(|uare  Avhere,  while  the  missionaries  were  arriving,  eighteen 
men  and  Avomen  Avere  served  up  to  feast  some  distinguished 
stranirer,  and  over  all  the  islands  seems  to  hanir  ii  ncAv  heaven  in 
which    dwelleth    righteousness.     In    Fiji    are    noAv  tAvo  hundred 

21 


iKMIt 

i'i'l 

■  i  ? .  I 


'I  ' 


.  •  "II 

ir,  |»| 


if 


!ii 


■  ■A        Ii  i 

mi\\ 


n\ 


P 


t!i 


•  ■  w 


(4-   W 


: ;  T' 


i  '  !    "( 


f!  m 


t 


§1 


■   ^ 

J     :|       H 

I'-i        1 

If        '  ;t                 i 

i^         ■                      :           .                                    ^ 

324 


7'//^'   Sfon/  of  ^/f'f/to<Jts/n. 


thoiisaiid  i)('o))l('  ;  one  IiuikIi'cmI  mimI  t'orly  tliousaiul  rank  as  A\''os- 
lovaii.  ciirlil  thousand  as  Calholic,  and  none  as  licatlion.  So  lias 
]\rolliodisni  (-•arriod  religion  into  the  South  Seas.  In  the  Fiji  and 
Friendlv  Islands  it  has  about  fortv  thoustuid  connnunicants  and 
ncai'ly  two  luuidi'cd  thousand  adherents.  Progress,  moral  and 
material,  lias,  since  Thakomhan,  in  iN.Vl,  hecanu^  a  Christian, 
l)een  rajnd.  The  last  martyrs,  nine  visitors  to  the  last  heathen 
island,  fell  in  l-sOT. 

The  AVcsleyans  have  missions  in  ^Nlalta,  ( Jihraltai',  in  Xorthern 
America  and  elsewhere;.  Other  ]\Iethodist  bodies  of  England 
are  well  re})rescnted  in  mission  llelds. 

^^'e  saw  how  the  re^  ival  supplied  to  men  in  England  tV(\-;h 
thouirhts  of  love  and  duty,  and  how  it  <rave  such  thoughts  an 
impulse  towards  embodiment  in  bcnevohMit  action.  It  is  still 
transforming  the  Avorld,  })artly  l»y  labors  directly  its  own,  still 
more  by  the  zeal  and  courage  which  it  has  insi)ired  and  encour- 
aged in  non-Methodist  Churches. 


FiKsr  MissioN-.'ioL'sr':  .\r  TD.Vi;.*.,  ii.u  islanps. 


CHAPTER  XXVir. 

Wesleyan  Educational   Work. 

T  is  difficult  lor  some  people  to  admit  what  Chris- 
,liunity  has  done  for  education.  Others,  in  aa 
ungrateful  temper,  seem  anxious  to  separate  the 
two,  an  cflbrt  as  unnatural  as  that  of  parting  a  mother 
iVoin  her  child.  The  struggle  is  against  the  fixed 
order  of  things,  and  it  is  not  wise  to  struggle  like 
^"^liert,  Minister  of  Instruction  in  France,  to  put  asun- 
der what  God  has  joined  together.  In  England,  when 
Wesley  began  to  preach,  there  were  few  and  small 
facilities  for  general  education.  "The  common  mind" 
ran  on  unformed.  There  were  six  endowed  schools. 
Thiit  in  Winchester,  where,  a  thousand  years  ago,  Alfred,  its 
tounder,  would  listen  to  the  class  exercises,  was  the  oldest. 
Another  was  the  Charter-house,  where  John  Wesley  attended. 
These  schools  were  accessil)le  onl}'  to  the  hotter  classes.  Wesley 
tclt  the  pressing  need  of  general  education,  hut  he  wisely  attempt- 
ed only  what  he  could  actually  do. 

At  Kingswood,  he  opened  a  school  for  the  children  of  his  itin- 
erants. We  saw  AVhitefield  lavinir  at  Kingswood  the  corner-stone 
of  the  first  school,  and  kneeling  to  pray  that  the  gates  of  hell 
might  not  prevail  against  it.  The  ceremony  was,  to  the  thousands 
of  poor  people  who  looked  on,  the  date  of  rising  mtellectual  de- 
sires. No  address  on  the  Benefits  of  Education  could  have 
touched  them  like  that  object-picture.     The  enterprise  came  into 


» 


•iri 


Hi- 

"ill 


1  : 
1 


-  « 


* 

l 


32(! 


Tlir    .Sfttri/   of'  M(  limit l.'<iii . 


■|j  I 


M 


\  ; 


^\■(^sl(■_v^  liitii(l>,  iiiid  the  iiuoiiir  dl'  lii>  Fcllowsliii)  at  Oxford, 
wliicli  lie  was  expected  to  spend  in  "leai'ued  leisure,"*  lie  devoted 
to  tlie  inslruetidii  ol'otliers,  a  use  of  it  wliieli  would  liavc  rejoiced 
tlie  lieart  of  Williaiu,  Uislioi)  (tf  Lincoln,  who,  three  hundred 
yeans  earlier,  had  founded  the  Fellowshi[). 

The  ]\l('thodist  Teeri'ss  in  Scotland,  Lady  ^laxwell.  ucnerously 
aided  the  enterprise.  The  school  seems  to  have  opened  with 
twenty-ei^iht  ])Upils,  who  wei'o  uuder  stern  training,  for,  though 


NEW  KINGSWOOU  SCHOOL. 


r  ■ 


Wesley  had  a  soul  of  love  for  the  young,  he  was  prone  to  judge 
them  l)y  himself,  who  had  no  need  of  play.  Soon  the  school 
could  uot  receive  its  growing  uumltei-s.  AVoodhouse  Grove,  near 
Leeds,  Mas  purchased,  and  the  original  school  was  removed  to  a 
site  near  l)ath.  In  these  schools,  about  three  hundred  sons  of 
preachers  and  missionaries  are  in  process  of  education.     Of  the 


lool 
»oav 

()  !l 

s  of 
the 


]\'i'siei/'(n    l\ihi<-iit!itiiiil    W'ltrh 


•  >:;< 


Orpli.'in  Iloiist'  ill  Newcastle — now  a  Hay  ScIkmiI  and  dirU'  In- 
dustrial School — and  <it'tlie  liOiidoii  l-'oimdry  Scliool,  eiioiiLih  lias 
already  been  said.  There  ai'e  lo-day  two  lloiii'ishiiiu^  coMe«jfes,  one 
at  Shellield  and  one  at    Taunlon.       i'he   London    I'niversitv,  erect- 


ed 


n  ls;i(i.  which  dillers  tVoin  ( )\lord  and  ( 'anil»i'idire  niainlv  in 


KF.W   Oltl'irAX  IiniSK.  NKWrASTl.E, 

even  in  the  I'olonies,  fecouni/es  these  A\'esleyan  colleijfes  and  con- 
t'ei's  their  dciirees. 

Gradually  irrew  a  system  of  day  schools,  the  need  ot"  which 
will  he  understood  if  we  I'eineinher  that  until  Air.  Foster's  Bill, 
ot"  l-STO,  there  was  no  system  of  puhlic  education  in  Knahmd. 
Fiv»>  years  later,  there  were  still  '' Dissent  inu'"'  schools  to  the 
nuuiher  of  two  thousand  and  eiuhtv-six.  of  which  the  AVeslcvans 
had  over  sevcMi  hundred,  of  Avhich  none  existed  when  Wesley 
heii'an  his  work. 


'  I' 

1 

1 

J 

1 

'   1 

111  } 


t-il 


•i'! 


' ,  n 


•!   ;i 


I  > 


■r 


:    i 


I  I 


!•  if 

.( 

''m> 

1 

• 
1 

'I; 


.Jt>  ■'?>-..,  ' 


1 


t"vX  .,;     ,'a-.'  iE^~;il''.:(i.i''i' 


Wef^h'lfilil      KtJlli(lf!niml     lI'c;/7.' 


l'!I 


n\ 


/) 

A 


V 


f 

j^ 

# 

^ 

4 

Ifk 

3 

1  lj''n 

•J 

itVt'tV 

•f. 

Fi^ 

A 
.t 

L^i; 

r, 

|p>,'.' 

^ 

K>^ 

'     A 

Tlit'st'  <liiv  scliodK,  wliicli  lire  now  iiidi-d  liv  urovcniinciil  irnint; 
riKulc  iicccssui'V  ;i  li'MlniiiL'"  scliool  lor  llic  ^iipplyiiii: ol'  IcMclicrv 
'TIk!  AW'slrAan  Xoi'inal  Si'liodl,   at    Wc^fmiii^lci-,    was  built   al 


y.ri'MvJl;'. 


JAMES  I..  lUUU,  U.  U., 
TKINCll'AL  OK  WISI.EVAN  NOHMAI,  SCHOOL,  AVLSTMINSTEU,  KNGLASD. 

cost  of  two  liuiidrcd  llioiisaiid  dollars,  lis  attendance  is  nearly 
two  liundred  and  its  jjupils  have  every  faeility  that  a  choice  home 
in  the  best  ])art  of  I^ondon  eaii  give. 


1 '  t 

' 

1 

■ 

•  M     (1; 

'ii    1 

4|.     It! 


!  I 


I  Ii 


II    !        M 


330 


TIte  Stov^  oj-  Mt'tliotUi<))i. 


*(    ,  ♦  '• 


i 


'  S    i 


:  p  I 


<  ■♦ 


Of  tli('()l()irii"il  institutions  the  AVoslcyans  li;)V(>  tluvo.  One 
is  at  MaiK'lu'stcr.  anotlun*  at  Leeds.  Tlio  third,  at  IJii-lniiond,  is 
propci'ly  a  training  school  for  missionaries,  and  we  have  ah'eady 
noted  in  our  Story  how  it  early  sent  its  })upil>  into  foreign  parts. 

"VVesleyans  in  Ireland  oi)ened  a  college  in  IVdfast  in  18(»S.  and 
they  have  their  full  share,  not  any  too  large,  of  special  ciiaritable 
scIkk  is. 

In  every  Jiart  of  the  world  where  AVesleyans  have  gone  as 
missionaries  lliey  liave  soon  })laiited  schools.  It  may  now  he 
said  that  their  schools,  lil-ce  their  national  tlag,  "following  iha 
sun  and  accomi)anvinir  the  hours."  have  a  "morniui;  drum  beat" 
around  the  entire  circle  of  the  globe. 

To  the  educational  work  of  English  ^lethodism  must  be  added 
its  i)eriodicaI  literature.  It  has  three  weekly  journals,  one  Iveview, 
and  smail«>r  publications  almost  innuniera])le. 

From  all  these  causes  it  lias  come  that  its  rolls  have  now  long 
contained  the  names  of  eminent  men.  It  has  luncr  l)een  without 
representation  in  Parliament.  It  last  year  furnished  a  Lonl 
^fayor  of  London. 

In  \s:\\),  the  tlrst  century  of  AVesleyanism  expired.  It  was 
pr()[)erly  thought  thai  a  wide  and  gratefid  notice  should  l)e  taken 
of  such  an  epoch.  It  will  be  recalled  that,  early  in  173!),  A)'hite- 
tield  and  others  ha<l  their  marv(dous  ex))erience  in  Fetter  Lane 
when  some  lell  1o  the  floor  and  all  felt  the  power  of  (Jod.  They 
sanir  th<>  Te  I)eum  loud  and  clear,  and  wei'c  sure  that  thi^  Lord 
was  al)out  to  do  great  things  among  tluin.  Then  he  broke  the 
ice  by  his  ilrst  open-air  scmmuou  to  the  weej)ing  colliers  at  Kings- 
wood,  and.  calling  W(>s!"y  to  do  the  sanu*.  he  passed  on  in  hi> 
wonderfid  career.  That  same  year.  AVesley  fornu'd  his  tirst  l)and. 
laid  till'  conu'r-stone  of  his  tirst  i-ha))el  and  issued  a  volunu^  of 
those  hvnms  whose  singing  has  now  encircled  the  eai'th.  To  ))i'ing 
to  i;rat<'fnl  remembrance  su»'h  a  year  was  a  pious  and  joyous  duty. 


]\'esh'i/(in    Educational    Work, 


331 


it; 


In  tho  (Mid  ot"  l-Sil'S,  propanitorv  incotiiiirs  wcri^  held  ti)  fix  on 
]»l!iiis  for  tlio  doul)!*'  juhilt'c,  :iiid  it  was  dctcniiincd  to  cflfhratc  it 
l>y  castiiiir  shifts  and  otrcriiiu^s  into  the  treasury  ot"  tlu>  Lord.  A 
widow,  wealthier  than  tlic  ono  whom  the  Saviour  jjraised,   hut 


^  ■■TJ'',^tl-'i'''*U'i' 


V.  .1.    .I()|1M)N,    I).    11. 


of  like  tcnijx'r.  opened  the  work  w  itli  a  thousand  guineas,  and  in 
one  ihiv  at  Citv  Road  Chanel  two  thousand  i)ound.s  were  uiven. 
From  .l(>hn  O'tJi-oat's  to  Lands  jjid  all  wei'e  i:i\  inn'. 

A   committee   had   lixed  ei^iht^'   'housand   ponnd>  to   lie   rai-ed 


1i 


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77/r'   Sfdi'i/  of  Millioil i^iii . 


for  the  groat  intorosfs  of  tlio  Councction,  wliiU;  llio  ordinary 
cxpciulituros  ■were  si  ill  lo  l»e  susfMiiicd.  Ireland  iravc  of  its  sad, 
clu'oiiic  i)ov(M'1  y  ;  tlio  Foreign  Missions  claimed  the  right  to  send 
buek  from  their  seanty  resources,  and  the  eighty  thousand  pounds 
became  two  hundred  and  sixteen  tliousand — one  million  and  eighty 
thousand  dolhirs. 

That  year,  sixteen  tliousand  were  added  to  the  C*hurch  and  one 
hundred  and  eighteen  to  tlu,'  ministry.  "Is  the  I^ord  among  us 
or  not?"  had  good  re})ly.  Could  A\'es]ey  and  AVhitetield  have 
looked  down  mwn  the  England  of  their  love  and  lal)or,  tliev 
wouki  liave  re])eated  the  Avords  Avhieh  they  so  often  spoke  in  their 
life-time  :  "What  hath  God  wrought?" 

No  Protestant  liodv  had  ever  se(>n  such  an  occasion,  and  all 
such  bodies  shared  its  gladiu^ss.  It  had  created  tlie  Evangelical 
party  of  tlu;  Established  Church;  it  had  saved  the  non-Episcopal 
societies  of  England  and  even  of  America. 

In  AVales.  it  had  found,  in  17.')!l,  thirty  fecl)le  Dissenters  and 
had  (juickened  them  to  over  twenty-three  hundred,  and  had 
created  there  Calvinistic  ]\b»thodism,  with  a  chajxd  to  every  three 
s(juare  miles  of  territory.  Its  etlect  on  the  national  character 
can  hardh'be  estimated.  Buckle,  in  his  Ilistorv  of  Civilization, 
marks  "an  innnense  chaniie  amoiiir  the  iieople,"  beginning  soon 
after  "Wesley  began  his  labors.  Indexed,  let  the  reverse  now 
happen.  Take  from  the  English  world  what  is  truly  traceable 
directly  to  "The  Great  Eevival"  and  the  joy  and  strength  of  the 
land  would  be  gone. 

"Wesley  began  Avitli  a  grouj)  equal  to  the  fingers  of  his  hand. 
He  died  at  the  head  of  five  hundi'ed  and  fifty  traveling  })reachers 
and  one  hundred  and  forty  thousand  members.  (AVe  here,  for 
the  first  time,  include  those  of  the  United  States.)  At  the  Cen- 
tenurv  these  figures  had  increased  about  tenfold.  At  the  end  of 
still   another    ireneration,    LSdd,    there   were  nine    bundled   and 


I  ■: 


]\'fs/('i/(iii    Eihicdtitnidl    AVdi'l:. 


333 


thirty-one  thousand  four  liuiulrcd  ami  tifty  ^Methodists  ii\  Great 
Britain  and  IrcUmd,  and  lour  million  in  the  world.  The  stutistics 
ot"  to-day  will  be  given  in  another  plaee. 

Ilaviuir  thus   set  forth  the   .Story  of  Methodism   in  the  land  of 
its  oriirin,   we  ]>roi)ose  to  tell  of  its  eareer   in  our  own  country, 
one  nearer  and  not  less  entertaininir. 


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SIIEFFIKI.U  WKSLKV  COLI.EOK,  EXULANl). 


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lend  of 


